DepEd says it did not order closure of Lumad school in Talaingod

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday said that it did not order the closure of the Lumad school in Talaingod that reportedly shut down by a paramilitary group after being tagged as "Red school," allegedly infiltrated by communist rebels.

In a statement, DepEd said that they continuously support the contribution of non-government and community-led institutions like the Salugpongan Tatanu Igkanugon Community Learning Center.

“Through DepEd Region XI, (DepEd) confirms that it did not order the closure of any school serving Indigenous Peoples (IP) learners,” the statement read.

Last week, former Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo was detained at the police station in Talaingod, Davao del Norte with some teachers of the Salugpongan school.

The Lumad school was suspected of having been infiltrated by the New People's Army, which prompted a paramilitary group to shut down the facility, Ocampo said.

DepEd said it granted Salugpongan school a permit to operate in 2014.

“Salugpongan Ta’ Tanu Igkanon Community Learning Center, Inc. is one of the three groups of private learning institutions operating in the region that have been granted with permit to operate in 2014,” the DepEd said.

However, the DepEd said that the closure of the school was a community decision based on reports from the agency's Davao regional office.

“Tribal leaders of an IP community in Talaingod, Davao del Norte held a press conference morning of December 3 and stated that the closure of a Salugpongan learning center was a community decision supported by a resolution issued by the IP community council,” the DepEd explained. — Joviland Rita/MDM, GMA News