The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Bicol Union and Kabataan Partylist (KPL) Bicol expressed strong condemnation of reported police and military intrusion, led by the 9th ID and 2nd IB, in public schools in Masbate under the guise of “campus tours” and “awareness seminars.”

They said these violated Department of Education Order No. 44 s 2005 which declared schools as “zones of peace.” The order prohibits the presence of military and police inside schools unless there is a clear security threat.

“The military activities in schools are neither innocent nor merely educational. These are thinly veiled acts of dangerous red-tagging, harassment, and intimidation that sow terror, anxiety, and violations of human rights of teachers, students, and school personnel,” ACT Bicol Union explained.

“We strongly remind everyone that schools must remain safe spaces for free thinking, discussion, and learning and must not become spaces of militarization, silencing, and intimidation,” the group added.

ACT Bicol Union also reminded the local and national government, as well as school administrations, to respect the principle of academic freedom and defend their students and teachers from these kinds of activities. The group also said that the Department of Education-Region V must investigate the reports of militarization in schools.

According to KPL-Bicol, the militarization of schools in Masbate, including the harassment of students in Bicol University and the continuing surveillance of youth in the region, shows the systematic targeting of students, groups, and schools by the state.

“More infuriating is that these attacks continue while Bicolanos are once again reeling from the devastation of typhoon Opong. Instead of prioritizing disaster response, rehabilitation, and genuine solutions to poverty, the government pours public funds into programs of surveillance, red-tagging, and militarization of our communities and schools,” KPL Bicol said.

“We call on fellow students, teachers, and the wider community to stand against these blatant violations of our rights. Funds must go to education, services, and disaster response, not harassment and intimidation of the youth,” the group appealed.