Metro Manila, Philippines – Palace press officer Claire Castro stood by her controversial remarks on the role of teachers in guiding students in light of another fatal school violence – this time in Zamboanga City – and refused to apologize over her comments that were taken out of context.
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) slammed the official after saying that students should be guided not only by their parents but also by schools, and that some teachers had taught students to behave disrespectfully toward others.
“Minsan na pong nakita mismo ang ibang guro ay lumalabag sa ganitong klase na moralidad. Sila minsan ay nagtuturo sa kanilang mga estudyante kung paano maging walang modo lalong-lalo na sa mga nakatatanda o sa ibang tao,” Castro said in a briefing on Wednesday, Aug. 19.
[Translation: There have been instances where some teachers themselves violated this kind of morality. Sometimes, they teach their students how to be disrespectful, especially toward elders or other people.]
ACT called Castro’s statement “reckless and insulting,” saying teachers should not be made scapegoats for deeper problems surrounding violence in schools.
Castro said teachers were not to blame, and argued that her remarks were a reminder of their responsibility as educators and “second parents” to students.
“Wala po tayong sinisisi na mga guro; ito ay pagpapaalala sa ating mga kagalang-galang na mga guro kung ano po ang kanilang malaking role bilang tagahubog ng magandang kaugalian lalong-lalo na sa mga kabataan,” Castro said.
[Translation: We are not blaming teachers. This is a reminder to our respected teachers about their significant role in shaping good behavior, especially among young people.]
Castro, however, maintained that she would apologize to teachers offended by her remarks.
“Iniisip ko saan ba dapat na sabihin kong mali ako?” she said.
[Translation: I’m thinking, where exactly should I say that I was wrong?]
Castro instead said an apology may be needed from those who quoted her in the wrong context.
“Siguro po ang dapat na magbigay ng paumanhin ay iyong nagbigay ng maling konteksto sa aking sinabi,” she said.
[Translation:Perhaps those who gave the wrong context to what I said should be the ones to apologize.]
Davao incident
Castro then cited cases which, she said, showed some educators failed to set appropriate examples for students.
She referred to an incident in Davao City in which students allegedly shouted offensive remarks while President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was present. Castro said she personally coordinated with Education Secretary Sonny Angara about it.
She also cited a separate case involving a teacher who allegedly made a video teaching a student insulting words. Castro said the teacher admitted making the video, apologized, and is now facing an administrative case.
Castro also pointed to an Aug. 11 Department of Education reminder on the responsible use of social media by its personnel.
She said her criticism was directed at specific instances and not the teaching profession as a whole.
“Hindi po kayo lahat, hindi po kayo sinisisi; ito ay pagpapaalala,” Castro said.
[Translation: This is not about all of you, and you are not being blamed. This is a reminder.]
Explanation does not erase insult
The ACT rejected Castro’s explanation and maintained that her remarks had unfairly dragged teachers into the discussion on school violence.
“Usec. Claire Castro’s attempt to dismiss teachers’ outrage as ‘pang-iintriga,’ ‘misconception,’ and ‘misinterpretation’ evades the issue,” the group said in a statement.
It said the response from educators was a “legitimate and collective” reaction to what it described as the Palace’s sweeping insinuation against teachers.
“What was the point of highlighting that some teachers teach students to misbehave?” the group said.
“If there are cases of teacher misconduct, these should be investigated and addressed through proper accountability. They should not be casually invoked in a discussion about violence in schools,” it added.
The ACT argued that school violence involves broader and more complex problems and said teachers should not be treated as responsible for a “culture of impunity.”
“Teachers are not perpetrators of this crisis. We are among those who confront its consequences every day,” the group said.
