DepEd refutes red-tagging claims amid controversial memo; ACT cries intimidation

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday said its memorandum to consolidate data for its payroll deduction system was not issued to red-tag teachers affiliated with unions, but the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), called the move “plain intimidation.”

In an Unang Balita interview, DepEd Undersecretary and spokesperson Michael Poa explained that the DepEd was only asking for a list of members of organizations who use the agency’s Automatic Payroll Deduction System (APDS) to update its human resource system and consolidate data in its central office.

“Wala po, definitely. In fact, we always respected ‘yung legitimate union activities. Kaya nga kahit ‘yung ating APDS ay pinapagamit natin sa kanila para maka-kolekta sila ng membership dues sila,” Poa said when asked if there was discrimination or red-tagging intended for the issuance of the memorandum.

(There’s nothing like that, definitely. In fact, we always respected the legitimate union activities. That's why we even let them use our APDS so they can collect membership dues.)

He stressed that the DepEd already has information on personnel availing of the APDS, and the agency is merely updating its records.

“Hindi na bago ‘yan o hindi karagdagang information ‘yan. ‘Yan ay nasa sistema na ng DepEd. Kinukuha lang natin from one office to another to update our own records dito sa central office. Nung sila ay nag-enroll sa APDS, ay binigay na nila ‘yung mga pangalan na ‘yan. So it’s really not profiling because ‘yan naman ay information na nasa sistema na ng DepEd,” Poa said.

(That is not new or additional information. That is already in the DepEd system. We just take it from one office to another to update our own records here at the central office. When they enrolled in the APDS, they already gave those names. So it's really not profiling because that is information that is already in the DepEd system.)

'Plain intimidation'

ACT chairperson Vladimer Quetua slammed the move, saying that it was “plain intimidation” of its members and a violation of their right to freedom of association.

“It is a plain intimidation. Actually, chilling effect ito. Nagkakaroon ng chilling effect sa mga teachers namin. Basically, ito ay pagku-curtail ng aming right to organization,” he said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

(It is plain intimidation. Actually, this has a chilling effect on our teachers. Basically, this is curtailing our right to organization.)

In a "24 Oras" report, ACT secretary general Raymond Basilio said the group is studying possible legal moves against DepEd.

"Magsisimula po kaming makipag-usap sa ibat ibang lawyers groups right now to discuss kung ano yung mga legal options namin. But  the first option that we are going to do right now is the filing of the complaints sa International Labor Organization," Basilio said.

On Friday, House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro demanded a halt to DepEd’s alleged profiling operations against ACT and its members.

Castro also called on the Marcos administration, particularly Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte and the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), to end the supposed profiling of unions and activists, as well as red tagging.

Duterte is also the co-vice chairperson of the NTF-ELCAC.

In a statement, ACT argued that it has all the reasons to be concerned with the alleged profiling of DepEd as there “is no guarantee that such documents will not be used against ACT and its members knowing that the current Secretary and Vice President Duterte is engage into relentless and malicious red-tagging of ACT.”

“This is opening the big possibility of violating ACT’s and its members’ right to association, freedom of expression and protection of privacy. We urge DepEd to go after abusive loan sharks and lending institutions instead and spare unions and teachers’ organizations,” the group said.

In a statement on Saturday, the DepEd denied ACT’s accusation, calling it “absurd and distorted.”

“The allegation that the memorandum was intended to profile the members of ACT Union as part of a supposed government anti-insurgency campaign is patently absurd, distorted, and [follows] no logic,” the DepEd said.

“The request was publicly available, and proves that it did not intend to target members of the union, as alleged by ACT,” it added.

The department said it regularly receives complaints about inaccurate, questionable, and unwarranted salary deductions for loan remittances and membership dues, which it said are within its authority to investigate. —KBK, GMA Integrated News