Satur on Albayalde’s claim that minors are taught a different national anthem: Prove it

Former Bayan Muna party-list Representative Satur Ocampo on Monday challenged Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde to prove his claim that minors in Davao Del Norte were being taught a different version of the national anthem.

"I don't know what General Albayalde... from what source. He has to produce evidence if he claims... that would be a ground... he has to produce the evidence," Ocampo said in an interview on ANC.

Ocampo said he is not aware of any incident in which lumad schools have been educating students with a different material.

"I'm not aware of that. I don't know of any instance that another version of the National Anthem is being taught. What's the point?" he said.

The PNP chief has bared that when they talked to the lumad in Talaingod, Davao del Norte, the latter claimed that the lessons being taught were different, including the national anthem.

"Nung nakausap natin ang mga lumad, sabi nila kahit na 'yung Pambansang Awit iba ang itinuturo. Pinipilit po nilang isama sa school na 'yan, 14 minors para mag-aral kuno pero iba po ang tinuturo," Albayalde said.

ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro then dared Albayalde to visit a lumad school and see how academically excellent the students are.

Castro, Ocampo and 16 others have been charged with kidnapping and human trafficking for allegedly holding minors during their solidarity mission in Talaingod.

All of them were released from detention on Saturday night after they each posted P80,000 bail for their charges. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KG, GMA News