A teacher from went on social media to reveal allegations of plagiarism in one of the contest categories in the recently-concluded Regional Schools Press Conference (RSPC) in Central Luzon.
The RSPC is a competition of campus journalists from all over Region 3 in various categories.
This year's competition was held in Baler, Aurora last March.
The teacher’s post was shared 1,900 times as of this writing.
The teacher alleged that the one of the entries in the Collaborative Desktop Publishing category showed significant similarities to a previous entry from RSPC 2025, which placed second in the English category.
The teacher even posted a copy of one of the entries and the alleged plagiarized newspaper.
He cited alleged similarities in layout structure, design treatment, and conceptual presentation, particularly in the Editorial-Opinion and Features pages, noting that these may go beyond mere inspiration.
The teacher also claimed that the concern has been raised to regional school authorities but no response or clear action has been provided.
He questioned how the competing team may have accessed the earlier output, pointing out that such materials were officially submitted and should have been secured by the regional office.
In his post, the teacher emphasized that the issue, in his view, is not about competition results but about accountability and the integrity of campus journalism
He described plagiarism as a serious violation of journalistic ethics and called for appropriate action.
SunStar tried reaching the Department of Education (DepEd) Region 3, through Michelle Lacson of the Public Affairs Unit via Messenger, for comment.
Lacson said a reply regarding the issues will be sent "as soon as possible."
He also shared copies of both the entry and the material he claimed showed similarities.
In a statement dated April 7, 2026, DepEd Region III confirmed receipt of a formal complaint alleging plagiarism during the recently concluded RSPC.
The office said the complaint has been referred to its Legal Unit for a “comprehensive and impartial fact-finding investigation."
The agency assured that all involved parties will be given due process.
“Before any definitive adjudicative action or sanction is rendered, there will be a meticulous evaluation of all evidentiary submissions,” the statement read.
The DepEd regional office also reiterated its commitment to uphold ethical standards in campus journalism and ensure accountability for any proven violations.
DepEd Region III has yet to release details on the scope or timeline of the investigation.