Marawi schools division head defies DepEd Order

Supt. Macatanong in a press conference

FRANK E. DOSDOS, JR.

Editor

MARAWI CITY, June 2 - The incumbent city schools division superintendent of Marawi City declared Thursday that she is defying the Office Order dated May 23, 2014 of Secretary Jamar Kulayan of the Department of Education, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DepEd-ARMM) which considered her services terminated and no longer the superintendent of schools. 

In a general assembly of all district supervisors, principals and teachers of the Division and in the presence of representatives of local, regional and national Media, Mona A. Macatanong declared that she is the legal schools division superintendent of Marawi. 

The Office Order stated that Macatanong “is considered RETIRED FROM THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE upon reaching the compulsory retirement age of sixty-five (65) on October 18, 2013 and her (Macatanong’s) services are IMMEDIATELY TERMINATED,” 

It also directed Director Somerado M. Pandapatan, Director II, BAFOSS and Abdullah P. Macataman, RPSU, to “effect the retirement of Macatanong on the records of this Office, and further instructed to facilitate the return of all government properties under the latter’s custody and clearance from money accountability.” 

It further ordered that the “RPSU shall also delete the name of Macatanong in the payrolls effective immediately. 

Macatanong told her subordinates and all those present that her retirement will be on May 23, 2016, not 2013, as her request for correction of Date of Birth on her Employment Records from October 23, 1949 to October 23, 1951 was approved by the Civil Service Commission, en banc through its Resolution dated March 4, 2013. 

She claimed that the Regional Office was duly furnished a copy of the said Civil Service Commission in order to effect the corresponding correction of her Date of Birth. 

She said that being the legal Superintendent of Schools, she will not vacate her position. 

She added that her lawyers are preparing the appropriate legal action and that only the Civil Service Commission or the Supreme Court can order her retirement at this time. 

She also clamed that she does not deserve such treatment because she has achieved a lot for the Division such as among others, the higher rating of pupils in the National Achievement Test. 

She said that she was even nominated for Outstanding Public Servant and Employees HERO AND PUBLIC SERVANT, individual category, by Haron A. Abato, President, Marawi City Public School Teachers and Employees Association (MACIPUSTEA). 

She finally claimed that she was able to build the Division of City Schools Office Complex without any funds from the DepEd ARMM.

RANAO STAR