ACT slams ‘intimidation’ of teacher who posted about CR used as faculty room

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) on Wednesday slammed the alleged intimidation of a teacher at Bacoor National High School in Cavite whose post about a comfort room being used as a faculty room drew public attention.

"What Ms. [Maricel] Herrera is being made to suffer right now is a clear case of union repression and violation of her academic freedom," ACT said in a statement posted on it Facebook page.

"She is being shamed and punished for speaking truth to power, a courageous act to stand for the welfare of teachers who were plopped in a dismal condition, but the powers-that-be took offense and now threatens her employment," it added.

In an earlier report on 24 Oras by GMA News' Maki Pulido, teachers at the Bacoor National High School explained how they resorted to using a comfort room and other areas like the hallway to do work amidst a shortage of classrooms.

In its statement, ACT slammed the school's principal who was reportedly planning to file cases against the Maricel Herrera who shared photos of the comfort rooms on her Facebook page.

The alliance also called out Education Secretary Leonor Briones for her remark which reportedly dismissed the educator's move as "dramatic" and "touching."

"We denounce DepEd Secretary Briones’ lie that the case is an isolated one, further, her contemptuous remark that teachers chose to stay on the shabby faculty area because it is ‘more dramatic and touching'," the statement read.

"Equally, we condemn the school principal’s threats of suing Ms. Herrera, allegedly for ‘disparaging the reputation’ of the education agency and the school," it added.

GMA News online is trying to get the side of Briones and the Bacoor National High School.—LDF, GMA News