DepEd steps in on salutatorian speech controversy 

Even without receiving a formal complaint, the Department of Education said it will look into the circumstances surrounding incident involving officials interrupting a high school salutatorian during her "unapproved" speech which went viral.
 

In an interview on GMA News' Unang Hirit on Tuesday, DepEd spokesperson Asec. Toni Umali said their legal department has been directed to coordinate with DepEd-National Capital Region and the Quezon City Schools Division to address the matter.

 

"We shall always respect the rights of our students to freely express their thoughts and feelings in light of existing laws and the provision of the Constitution and in a manner and forum that is appropriate," Umali said, reading the DepEd statement.

 

The said investigation "shall focus, among others, on what was actually said, or prevented to be said, by the student, and the other matters raised or were not raised in her speech, like the alleged issues on transparency on the computation of her grades," the statement said. 

 

It will "also look as to whether the school acted within or beyond its authority when it stopped its student from delivering her prepared speech to their graduating class," it added.

 

The controversy stemmed from a video that circulated on social media, showing officials of Sto. Niño Parochial School in Quezon City stopping its salutatorian, Krisel Mallari, who took the podium with a different speech than what was approved.

 

The video has gotten more than 1.5 million views on YouTube as of this posting.

 

Mallari, through his older sister Katherine, told GMA News Online that she was only calling for transparency in the computation of her grades. 
 

The school released a statement on Tuesday, saying they did that to stop Mallari from discrediting the valedictorian. 
 

No further comment 

 

The DepEd, however, said it wishes to "beg for the indulgence and patience of everybody" pending the investigation as it "will refrain from making any further comment on the matter."

 

In the television interview, Umali said: "Ito po ang klaro, sabi ni (DepEd Secretary) Bro. Armin (Luistro), maski wala po kaming pormal na hinaing na nahawakan, hindi na po hinintay ni Bro. Armin na mag-file ng pormal na reklamo para sa imbestigasyon na ito."

 

Umali said the challenge for the department is "that we don't want to sound that we are already saying that the child was wrong or correct."

 

"Klarong klaro, tulad po ng sinabi niyo, may mga karapatan po ang bata na amin namang kinikilala, lalo na po 'yung sabi niyo na 'yung karapatan na ipahayag ang kaniyang saloobin o hinaing... Sana maunawaan po tayo ng ating mga manonood, ayaw rin naman po namin na kaagad-agad parang lumabas na sinasabing mali 'yung paaralan... Kailangan po naming tingnan kung ano talaga 'yung dahilan kung bakit nila pinigil in the manner that was shown in the video," he said.

 

He added that they will need to look into the supposed speech to ascertain what the student wanted to say.

 

Window for filing complaint

 

Umali said there are regulations for private schools in the selection of their honor students, which must be disclosed to the students.

 

Should there be problems about this, the concerned party may file its complaint before the school within five days after the announcement of the honor roll.

 

If an appeal was made to the division level, a resolution must be granted within three days before the ceremonies. — Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/RSJ, GMA News