Briones says statement about suffering misquoted in meme

Education Secretary Leonor Briones on Wednesday expressed grief over a misconstrued version of one of her statements that circulated the internet via meme.

A statement from the Department of Education (DepEd) referred to a photo posted on Facebook that quoted her as saying, “Public service is about suffering — financially, physically and psychologically.”

A screenshot of the meme was attached.

Briones clarified that the phrase was a poorly reduced snippet of a statement that she delivered in July before members of the National Union of Career Executive Service officers.

Briones said her full statement was, "Public service is not about power and getting rich. It is all about suffering – financially, physically, psychologically. It is all about attacks from all corners. But it is also joy – the joy of introducing reforms, the joy of touching people and the joy of teaching them new ways of thinking and of serving our people.”

The DepEd said Briones' statement "was reduced to 'Public service is about suffering – financially, physically, and psychologically,' contracted to trivialize and serve purposes that lead to misunderstanding and disagreement, and posted online without due diligence to verify complete information.”

DepEd also referred to a change.org petition, emphasizing the secretary was even called to resign following the posting of the meme.

A basic virtue

On Wednesday, the DepEd cautioned the public against posts, words, and actions that "result from and promote dishonesty.”

"Case in point is her quote on public service abridged to the point of lacking context and circulated on social media as a disparage to the Education chief’s intent to remind public servants of the challenges – and fulfillment – of serving the country,” it said.

Nevertheless, the department is hopeful that "discerning" and "judicious" Filipino netizens "will not fall into the trap of disinformation, much less become instruments of spreading it.”

"At a time when the truth of action speaks softer than the barrage of lies, the Secretary puts her confidence in honest Filipinos who give truth a louder and clearer voice through thorough research, verification of information, and complete dissemination of facts,” it said. —Margaret Claire Layug/KBK, GMA News