Monday, September 03, 2007 Duterte raps private schools rules on expelling students By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte called the attention of private schools over what he called as 'unjust' policies. The mayor particularly cited the case on the expulsion of a 15-year-old female student who was allegedly gang-raped.
In his television program "Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa" Sunday, Duterte advised private schools to take into consideration the plight of their students and not worsen the situation by expelling the student from their institution.
The mayor said he was informed that the female student was expelled from her school after the school administration allegedly found out that the student was actually not raped but had consented to having sex with several young men.
Duterte cautioned the school administration not to be judgmental as investigation is still ongoing with regards to the rape case. The mayor said regardless of whether the victim was indeed raped or consented to the sexual abuse, the victim needs help and expelling her from school will only worsen the situation.
"You should not be judgmental. It's oppressive. There has to be some rectification here. Otherwise I will use the legal minds of the city to help the child," Duterte said.
The mayor said he already ordered his chief of staff, Patricia Ruivivar, and city councilor Angela Librado-Trinidad to talk to the school officials regarding the case of the rape victim.
Duterte said if the private school will not take the student's case into consideration then he will do all he can within his power to compel schools to be more sympathetic to rape victims instead of being judgmental.
The mayor did not identify the particular school but said such an incident is also true to other schools especially the private ones.
