05/08/2026
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
MINISTRY OF BASIC, HIGHER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION (MBHTE-BARMM)
DIVISION OF LANAO DEL SUR II
PAGAYAWAN DISTRICT
OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF PAGAYAWAN DISTRICT
The officials, school heads, teachers, and personnel of Pagayawan District categorically deny the allegations contained in the social media post circulating online regarding the alleged collection of โฑ1,000.00 from teachers.
NO COLLECTION POLICY
WE ARE FULLY IMPLEMENTING THE NO COLLECTION POLICY OF OUR TRANSFORMATIVE SCHOOLS DIVISION SUPERINTENDENT,
DR. ANNA ZENAIDA UNTE-ALONTO, h.c.
Consistent with the directives of our Schools Division Superintendent, Pagayawan District strictly implements and faithfully adheres to the NO COLLECTION POLICY. No mandatory collection of any amount has been imposed upon teachers for district activities or programs.
Moreover, through the generous support of our Municipal Mayor, Hon. Khalida D. Polao-Sanguila, our district programs and activities are fully funded by the Local Government Unit (LGU). Consequently, there is no need to collect any amount from teachers, as the necessary financial support has already been provided by the LGU.
We respectfully maintain that the statements published in the said post are false, unverified, and misleading. At no time was any mandatory collection imposed upon teachers in violation of existing MBHTE or DepEd policies. We stand by the integrity of the district and the transparency with which our programs and activities are conducted.
While we fully recognize and respect every person's constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression under Article III, Section 4 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, such freedom does not extend to the publication or dissemination of false statements that unjustly damage the reputation of individuals or public institutions.
We are currently gathering relevant facts and documentary evidence regarding the publication. If warranted by the evidence, we reserve the right to pursue all available legal remedies under existing laws.
LEGAL BASES
โข Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code (Libel), in relation to Republic Act No. 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012), should the elements of cyber libel be established;
โข Article 19 of the Civil Code (Every person must act with justice, give everyone his due, and observe honesty and good faith);
โข Article 26 of the Civil Code (Protection of a person's dignity, personality, privacy, and peace of mind);
โข DepEd Order No. 36, s. 2016 (Policy on Social Media Use and Engagement in DepEd), where applicable;
โข Other applicable civil, administrative, and criminal remedies available under existing Philippine laws for injuries caused by false or defamatory statements.
We likewise call upon the author of the post and any person making similar allegations to present credible, competent, and admissible evidence before the proper authorities. Allegations affecting the reputation, integrity, and credibility of public servants should be supported by verifiable facts and addressed through lawful and appropriate legal channelsโnot through social media.
To the public, we respectfully encourage everyone to exercise discernment and verify information from official and reliable sources before accepting or sharing online posts. Responsible use of social media is a shared responsibility, and misinformation can cause unnecessary harm to individuals, institutions, and the community.
The Pagayawan District remains committed to transparency, accountability, due process, and the rule of law. We remain confident that the truth will prevail through the proper legal process.
"The rule of law protects both the right to speak and the right of every person to be protected from false and defamatory accusations."
PAGAYAWAN DISTRICT
Lanao del Sur Division II
MBHTE-BARMM
