DepEd chief belittles media

Reporters’ query on sex education curtly dismissed

REPORTERS covering the Department of Education (DepEd) decried a statement made by Secretary Brother Armin Luistro, who was reported to have said that that he does not need the help of media in going about his duties at the agency. “Education Secretary Brother Armin Luistro is either misinformed or he doesn’t know what he is saying,” Education department reporters group president Hannibal Talete said over the weekend, in response to Luistro’s statement, “Hindi nakakatulong ang media [The media do not help in any way].”

According to Talete, they were dismayed at Luistro’s behavior and actuation toward the media that he apparently regards as a nuisance in the performance of his duties as Education secretary.

“We don’t know where he’s coming from,” he said.

Talete noted that Luistro acknowledged the role and importance of media not only in informing the public but also in helping unearth the truth when he joined calls for former President Gloria Arroyo to step down at the height of the “Hello, Garci” controversy.

The controversy erupted from allegations of poll fraud against Arroyo, who was said to have phoned former poll commissioner Virgilio “Garci” Garcillano to rig the May 2004 elections in her favor. She denied the accusations.

More quits

Luistro’s apparent disregard of the media came when he was asked last week what he thought of a plan by his predecessor at Education department to introduce sex education in public elementary and high schools across the country.

Supposedly, the new Education chief curtly dismissed the question.

“Natatakot lang ata sya sagutin ang tungkol sa sex education dahil biased sya sa mga bishops [Maybe he was afraid to answer the question on sex education because he was biased in favor of the bishops],” the reporters said.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has expressed strong protest against the plan of former Education chief Mona Valisno.

The reporters also expressed surprised at Luistro’s display of arrogance in dismissing the media.

They also noted that Valisno appeared to have more guts in making a stand on the controversial issue of sex education.

The reporters said that the former Education chief stood her ground on her plan despite earning the ire of the influential Catholic Church and other religious groups.

Valsino’s courage was cited by Education Assistant Secretary Jonathan Malaya before employees of the department who honored Valisno during formal turnover ceremonies on July 1.

“In this aspect, [Valisno], even though she is a woman, has more guts compared to him [Luistro],” the reporters said.

Unbecoming response

“Ang dali naman ni Brother Armin magbago o ganun talaga ang mga ‘well-educated’ at lumaki sa mga institusyon na hawak ng mga pare o madre [How quick it is for Brother Armin to change or is it really that way with the well-educated who grew up in an institution controlled by priests or nuns]?” they asked.

Until his appointment as Education chief, Luistro was the president of the exclusive De La Salle University. He is not a priest, though, but a La Sallite brother.

The reporters said that they would not clash with Luistro but would not be cowed by such shabby treatment.

Earlier, they bewailed the Education secretary’s treatment of a radio reporter who tried to get his opinion on sex education.

The encounter happened during the turnover ceremonies held on Thursday at the Education department main offices along Meralco Avenue in Pasig City (Metro Manila).

Radio dzMM reporter Denis Datu asked Luistro after the ceremonies if he is in favor of implementing sex education in the country’s public elementary and high schools.

The Education chief brushed aside Datu’s question with a curt, “Wag ninyo akong tanungin, dahil kayong media hindi kayo nakakatulong [Don’t ask me, because you, the media, you don’t help in any way].”

Other reporters there were surprised by the unbecoming response of the Education secretary.

The Manila Times called Luistro many times for his side on his controversial statement but the calls were unreturned. –FRANCIS EARL A. CUETO REPORTER, Manila Times