School official in Bicol bag-burning incident suspended for 90 days

A 90-day suspension has been meted out to the Bicol Central Academy administrator who ordered the burning of the bags and personal belongings of students who supposedly defied his order.

The Bicol Central Academy board of trustees has ordered the suspension of Alexander James Jaucian for 90 days.

JUST IN: Bicol Central Academy administrator Alexander James Jaucian, pinatawan ng 90 araw na suspensiyon ng board of trustees ng paaralan kasunod ng panununog sa mga bag ng mga mag-aaral. | via @JonathanAndal_ pic.twitter.com/xRpUOvTtLY

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) August 22, 2018

Super Radyo dzBB's Jonathan Andal reported that the suspension order was issued on Wednesday, the day School officials of the state-run Bicol Central Academy (BCA) and the parents of Grade 12 student-victims were scheduled for a dialogue. 

For supposedly violating a "no bag" policy for a certain event,  Jaucian ordered the students to stand and watch their bags, gadgets, and other belongings being set on fire at the academy in Libmanan, Camarines Sur.

In a cellphone video sent to "24 Oras" last Sunday, senior high school students could be seen standing next to their burning items while a man shouted angrily at them, "Stupid pala kayo eh!"

According to the report, the students had been ordered to fall in line near where their bags were torched. Photos provided by the video uploader showed that cellphones and laptops were among the destroyed items.

The Department of Education had vowed to investigate the incident.

"Sumulat na po 'yung ating superintendent to the school administrator ng Bicol Central Academy, asking them within three days to explain the incident. After po nun, magkakaroon po tayo ng fact-finding investigation," said DepEd Undersecretary Analyn Sevilla.

Jaucian who allegedly ordered the burning of the students' personal belongings was also said to be the person who was heard on the video calling the students "stupid."

In the report, Education Secretary Leonor Briones was quoted as saying that the BCA could lose its permit to operate once found out that it has violated regulations, adding that it may also lose financial aid from the government. —LBG, GMA News