THE camp of outgoing Davao City Mayor and presumptive Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio said ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro is spreading misinformation after the lawmaker called for the inclusion of Philippine history in the high school curriculum.
This after Castro called on Duterte-Carpio, who has been named as Education Secretary by presumptive president Ferdinand “Bong Bong” Marcos, Jr., to restore Philippine History as an independent subject in the high school curriculum to prevent revisionism.
"In any event, the current leadership of the Department of Education (DepEd) has clarified time and again that contrary to reckless and misleading claims, Philippine history is in fact being taught in the K to 12 curriculum," Duterte-Carpio's spokesperson, Liloan, Cebu Mayor Christina Frasco said in a statement.
According to the lawmaker, the subject was removed from the high school curriculum under the K to 12 program. She said events of Philippine History are only integrated in several subjects instead of having an "independent" subject.
Castro also urged Duterte-Carpio and the incoming administration of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., not to use the educational system "as a tool for further revision of our history."
Frasco told Castro not to give in to her personal and political agenda and to focus on upholding the welfare of thousands of teachers by legislation, which is her duty and mandate.
"The challenge issued by ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro is premature and misleading pending presentation of the education agenda by the incoming administration," Frasco said in a statement to the media.
The spokesperson also clarified Castro's "reckless and misleading claims", Philippine History is still being taught in the K to 12 curriculum.
"It is Rep. Castro who sows misinformation by making false claims on history revisionism," Frasco said.
Duterte-Carpio, in an ambush interview aired on GMA News, addressed concerns that she would change the Martial Law historical record once seated as Education Secretary, saying that it would be difficult and it was not a priority.
On May 12, 2022, Duterte-Carpio accepted the offer of Marcos Jr. to head the DepEd so she can help produce "skilled learners."