Deped exec suspends classes as military, rebels clash

By URIEL C. QUILINGUING
Contributing Editor

CLASSES in four public elementary schools in Valencia City have been suspended since Tuesday until further notice due to the ongoing armed conflict between government forces and communist rebels in Sitio Tun-ogan of Barangay Lilingayon which took off early Monday morning.

Valencia schools division superintendent Rebonfamil Baguio ordered the class suspensions in Makailaw Elementary School, Tagalawa Elementary School, Cambangan Elementary School, and Tandacol Elementary School, for safety reasons.

“Affected school heads and teachers are directed to vacate their respective stations as soon as possible, except for those from Tandacol ES since they are residents in the area,” said Baguio, while those from Cambangan, Tagalawa and Makailaw were advised to report to Bagontaas Central Elementary school.       

The memo also states that all affected teachers, while waiting for clearance from proper authorities, are encouraged to develop instructional materials, accomplish standard school forms, and hold learning action cell sessions while the supervisor of the affected district is tasked to monitor teachers’ daily activities.

Baguio said that while the class suspension order was primarily  due to military operations, it was also reinforced by Memorandum Order No. 20-001, s. 2020 which the village chief issued, requesting the division office to call off all school activities.

Earlier, Lt. Col. Ronald Illana, the commanding officer of the 8^th Infantry Battalion confirmed through an interview over RMN-DxMB in Malaybalay City that a military operation has been launched at Mt. Kalatungan area in Lilingayon against the New People Army.

Illana said a separate military offensive against the NPA was also done, simultaneously, in Dumalaguing, Impasugong town, Bukidnon.