Mindanao teachers' heroism recognized

THREE public school teachers were conferred the Presidential Citations for their heroism and acting beyond the call of duty during the May 10 automated elections.

The awardees were Aliah Macabangun of Daramba Primary School, Matungao-Poonapiagapo District, Lanao Del Norte; Jean Solis of Paloc National High School, Compostela Valley; and Jennifer Sarsuelo of Paloc Elementary School, Compostela Valley.

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They were accorded with the presidential awards in a ceremony held in Malacanang Palace Monday morning.

"As members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs), these teachers performed heroic acts beyond the call of duty. Amid threats to life and limb, they were resolute in their sworn duty to protect the sanctity of the ballot," said Education Secretary Mona Valisno.

She said that she was proud of the teachers for their vigilance, and for preserving the integrity of the teaching profession by being a role model for not engaging in any partisan political activity.

"The entire DepEd (Department of Education) family is proud that it played such an important role in ensuring the success of our country's first automated elections. Having been given the enormous task to man the polls, our teachers did their duty with honesty and integrity."

Valisno said the three teachers displayed selfless devotion to their duty as polldeputies and strictly adhered to the Department's Guidelines for Clean Elections.

Assistant Secretary Jonathan Malaya, DepEd Spokesperson, said that Macabangon acted beyond the call of duty, when placing her own life at risk, she protected the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machine against armed groups who suddenly arrived at her clustered precinct in Lanao del Norte.

Based on the report of the DepEd Division of Lanao del Norte, at 7 a.m. on Election Day a group of armed men came to the voting center and fired shots prompting Macabangon to protect and secure the PCOS machine at all cost.

With the help of her co-teachers, she moved the PCOS machine to another room and there she retrieved the memory card and hid it in her undergarment for safekeeping. Because of her timely intervention, the PCOS machine was not taken by the armed men. She stayed in her hiding place until responding Army personnel arrive to take control of the situation.

Malaya said Solis and Sarsuelo also placed their lives on the line to ensure the delivery of the PCOS machines, ballot boxes, and election returns from their precinct to the canvassing center in Paloc, Compostela Valley.

Based on the report of the DepEd Division of Campostela Valley, the two were aboard a municipal dump truck which was used to transport the PCOS machine, ballot boxes, and election returns accompanied by military personnel and militiamen together with some poll watchers.

When they reached Maragusan, Paloc, they were suddenly ambushed by an undetermined number of New Peoples Army (NPA) rebels who suddenly opened fire at their vehicle. Killed on the spot were two Army soldiers, two CAFGU members, and a poll watcher.

Solis and Sarsuelo fortunately survived the incident. (AH/Sunnex)