By ZEA IO MING C. CAPISTRANO Davao Today DAVAO City — The Department of Education in Region 11 said it cannot intervene on the reported attacks on Lumad schools and teachers in the region as the concern is out of their mandate. Hundreds of students and teachers have mounted a protest camp since last week near the military headquarters of the Eastern Mindanao Command to condemn several cases of harassment on schools for indigenous school children in the region. The Association of Community Educators, a grassroots organization of teachers and school administrators, reported a series of harassments against Lumad educational institutions in the region by alleged paramilitary forces and soldiers in a letter they submitted to the regional office of Deped last June 16. However, in a letter reply, Atty. Alberto T. Escobarte, Deped 11 regional director, said the issues raised by the ACE “apparently belong to other government agencies or investigative bodies.” “(The) Regional Office sincerely suggests that your concern shall be directed to the proper authorities to include the Philippine National Police, Commission on Human Rights and Department of National Defense since the subjects of your complaint are the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” Escobarte said. Escobarte also added that the concern be referred to the Schools Division Superintendents who has responsibility in “supervising the operations of all public and private elementary, secondary and integrated learning centers” in their areas. He said they have already asked the Schools Division Office to “act on those issues and concern within the limit of authority.” (davaotoday.com)