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COTABATO CITY — If you want to help, here are the mobile phone numbers to call or send text message: +63-966.892.1231 and +63-920.206.1941.
And the email address to write to: official.sffic@gmail.com.
Those above are the numbers and email address that can be contacted by “individuals with information, evidence, and or concerns” related to allegations of irregularities in the hiring of teaching and non-teaching personnel in the Bangsamoro Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE).
The MBHTE, one of the 15 primary ministries of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), issued a statement today, October 12, 2023, encouraging the public to help in ferreting out the truth.
“…come forward and collaborate with the investigation. We pledge to make public the findings of the Special Committee upon the conclusion of the inquiry,” the statement from the Office of Education Minister Mohagher M. Iqbal.
“Again, the MBHTE reiterates its strong commitment to moral governance. We urge all stakeholders to refrain from engaging with unauthorized individuals or entities in any transactions related to the Ministry,” the education ministry’s statement posted on its Facebook page emphasized.
“In an effort to ferret out the truth and put an end to speculations, we are announcing the constitution of a Special Fact-Finding Investigation Committee, which is composed of individuals of probity and who are known for their dedication to transparency and accountability. They have been entrusted with the responsibility of conducting a thorough and impartial inquiry into these allegations.”
While of the mind that the allegations on the irregularities, including taking of money in exchange for appointment, were “unsubstantiated”, at least so far, the MBHTE formed the fact-finding body as they “raised questions about the integrity of our recruitment procedures for teaching and non-teaching positions”.
“The MBHTE wishes to reassure the public, our stakeholders, and all the concerned parties that we are treating these allegations with utmost urgency,” the statement said.
Reform to raise quality of education in BARMM
It assured full cooperation with the Special Committee, assuring it will provide all necessary resources leading to a comprehensive and impartial investigation.
“In light of the recent issues and allegations concerning bribery in the appointment of teaching and non-teaching positions within our Ministry, we are taking decisive action to investigate and address these concerns,” the MBHTE said.
Under the lead of Iqbal, who wears many hats in the 17 years peace process between the Philippine Government (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the MBHTE been putting in place reforms to raise the quality of education in the Bangsamoro region.
To name some, the construction of new school buildings and increase the number of classrooms in every BARMM provinces, hiring of teaching and non-teaching personnel, distribution of IT equipment and other school supplies, Teachers’ Kits and Learners’ Kits, assistance for teachers in times of calamities, and other steps.
The Bangsamoro region, established in 2018 by the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) to implement the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), is made up of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, the cities of Cotabato, Lamitan, and Marawi, as well as the Special Geographic Area’s (SGA) 63 barangays or villages that voted “Yes” in a plebiscite in February 2019 to be under the BARMM jurisdiction.
According to the Philippine Atlas BARMM has 4,404,288 people. It has 116 municipalities: Basilan, 11 municipalities; Lanao del Sur, 39; undivided Maguindanao, 36; Sulu, 19; and Tawi-Tawi, 11. Its component cities are Cotabato (the regional center and capital) in Maguindanao; Lamitan in Basilan; and Marawi in Lanao del Sur. — EKU (✓)