Ex-kapitan padlocks school
CALASIAO- A former barangay captain of Malabago here earned the ire of parents, teachers and pupils when he padlocked the gate of the Malabago Elementary School on the first day of classes last June 4.
Teachers called Mayor Roy Macanlalay and the police and when former Barangay Captain Celedonio Carcha refused to open the padlock he installed on the gates of the school to prevent pupils and the teachers from entering the school’s premises.
Carcha reportedly insisted that his family owns the lot where the school stands and no arrangements had been made for the use of the property.
Sensing that Carcha would not agree to the pleas to open the gates, Mayor Macanlalay decided to destroy the padlock himself using a bolt cutter to allow the pupils and faculty to enter the school premises. .
The mayor said he had to intervene in order to serve the constitutional right of the pupils to education that was being violated by Carcha.
As to the claim of ownership and absence of compensation by Carcha, Macanlalay said the municipal government will consider buying the where the Malabago Elementary School stands provided the papers are in order and the price is reasonable.
But he said before the municipality can make the payment, a process must be observed that will require the formation of an appraisal committee to assess the value of the property.
It was learned that that the Malabago Elementary School was established during the incumbency of Carcha as barangay captain.
It was Carcha who asked initially for two initial school buildings 10 years ago from then Congressman Generoso Tulagan to be constructed in his property as a service to his constituents.
However, when he lost his seat to an opposing candidate in the subsequent election, he began to demand compensation from the Department of Education (DepEd).
When he did not receive any positive response, he decided to force the issue by closing the gate during the first day of classes without warning.
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