(Photo by Kilab Multimedia)

Teachers and students of the Fr. Fausto Tentorio Memorial School in Kitaotao, Bukidnon province seek help as the village chief leads the demolition and closure of their school.

By KILAB MULTIMEDIA

The teachers and students of the Fr. Fausto Tentorio Memorial School are seeking help, as they evacuated from their boarding school in White Culaman village, Kitaotao town, Bukidnon province, after the village chief began demolishing the school today, Oct. 23.

In a report received by Kilab Multimedia from the Save Our Schools Network, some residents came to demolish the school upon instigation by White Culaman village chief Felipe Cabugnason and soldiers from the Philippine Army’s 8th and 23rd infantry battalion. Three soldiers in civilian clothes were seen during the demolition.

Since Oct. 1, Cabugnason had given notice to close the school, which is run by the Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation Inc. (Misfi).

The school was damaged and was padlocked by Cabugnason. All students, families who live nearby, together with the administrator of Misfi have evacuated the site.
Evelyn Cabangal, a teacher of the school, 42 students and some teachers of the school were threatened by Cabugnason who confiscated all the cellphones and cameras of the teachers and students, as they tried to document the demolition.

The demolition came despite earlier warning to Cabugnason by Kitaotao Mayor Lorenzo Gawilan and by the Department of Education Region X who told him not to close the school.

The school administration is now seeking the intervention of the municipal government and the DepEd. Region X.

Report of the demolition came as students and teachers of Misfi Academy are with the Manilakbayan in Bicol.