Bicol school official in bag-burning incident says sorry to parents

The school official embroiled in the mess stemming from the burning of the bags and belongings of students has apologized for the incident.

Bicol Central Academy (BCA) administrator Alexander James Jaucian, who ordered the burning of the bags of Grade-12 students who supposedly defied the "no bags" policy, said: "I'm very sorry."

A report on "Unang Balita" on Thursday also quoted Jaucian as saying, "I just wanted to discipline our students."

Administrator Jaucian, the parents of the student-victims,  and members of the board of trustees of the BCA-Libmanan in Camarines Sur met for a dialogue last Wednesday, the report added. 

Jaucian admitted that he was just carried away by his emotion for the students' apparent act of disobedience.

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 24-Oras report, the students last Friday were ordered to fall in line near where their bags were torched. Photos provided by the one who uploaded the video on social media showed that cellphones and laptops were among the destroyed items.

"Naintindihan nila (parents) ang kinakailangang disiplina sa mga anak, sublit sabi nila masyadong harsh ang punishment. Kapag involved na ay personal property, I think it's beyond the school's operation," said Dr. Gilbert Sadsad, regional director for DepEd Bicol.

The bags and belongings of 14 students were among the items burned in the incident, Sadsad said, citing records from the schools guidance councilor.

Earlier, DepEd Undersecretary Analyn Sevilla 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," she said.

Also, DepEd  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