Dep-Ed 6 saddened by  teachers’ link to drug trade

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

The Department of Education (DepEd)-Region 6 is saddened over the arrests of two teachers in separate police anti-illegal drug operations.

But while the agency is disheartened over what happened, Dep-Ed 6 regional information officer Hernani Escullar Jr. said they would subscribe to the rule of law.

“What’s important for us is the learning continuity of our students,” Escullar said.

He said that they would let the concerned DepEd division offices address the matter.

“They are expected to take necessary actions by filling the vacuum left by the teachers,” he said.

In such cases, Escullar assured that the regional office is ready to extend assistance to the division office, as may be necessary.

On Sept. 21, an elementary school teacher was arrested following a police anti-narcotics operation at San Lorenzo, Guimaras.

Police collared 38-year-old Al Ray at Barangay Aguilar, San Lorenzo town.

Members of the Guimaras Police Provincial Office – Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, together with San Lorenzo Municipal Police Station and GPPO- Provincial Intelligence Unit, arrested the suspect after selling a sachet of suspected shabu for P1,100.

Police operatives seized seven more sachets of suspected shabu, shabu paraphernalia, other non-drug items, and a Honda RS 125 motorcycle.

Bermejo said the seized drugs are valued at P51,000.

Three days later, another teacher was arrested in Sara, Iloilo.

Fifty-eight-year-old John and 18-year-old Tam Arthur, both residents of Barangay Villahermosa, Sara, were arrested after selling a sachet of suspected shabu for P1,000.

They later yielded seven more sachets of suspected shabu.

Meanwhile, Escullar said that they could not conduct a random drug test among teachers sans an order from the national office.