Indigenous peoples

THE DEPARTMENT of Education (DepEd) XI has clarified that it has not monitored any verified information regarding the alleged revival of the Salugpungan Ta’ Tanu Igkanugon Community Learning Centers and ALCADEV Schools—institutions that were ordered closed in 2019 due to regulatory violations and persistent accusations that they served as recruitment grounds for the New People’s Army (NPA).

DepEd XI spokesperson Jenielito Atillo stated that the region’s Quality Assurance Division (QAD)—the office responsible for overseeing school applications and compliance—has received no reports concerning any attempt to relaunch Salugpungan campuses across the Davao Region.

Atillo emphasized the stringent requirements imposed by the QAD for any entity wishing to operate a formal school.

 He stressed that it would be extremely difficult for any institution previously found to be in violation to secure a permit unless it fully meets all legal, administrative, and population-based criteria.

“We haven’t monitored any information relative to the effort on the operations of schools which, in 2019, we decided by virtue of very concrete facts, evidence, and due process to suspend their operation,” Atillo said, referring to the former Salugpungan campuses.

He acknowledged seeing some social media content suggesting the revival of the schools, including footage purportedly showing the continuation of ALCADEV’s operation [but in other areas]. However, he maintained that as of now, they have not received any official reports confirming such operations.

“But then again, as we speak, we haven’t monitored [anything]. We don’t receive reports from DepEd offices scattered all over Region XI that we have noticed this type of operation,” he added.

Military warns against establishing new schools under same scheme

Meanwhile, Major Ruben Gadut, chief of the 10th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office, backed the efforts of the DepEd, noting that the military has been aware of this situation for years. 

He recalled that previously, more than 55 Salugpungan schools were shut down by DepEd XI.

Major Gadut stressed that the primary detection responsibility lies with the education department, as these are educational establishments.

 However, he expressed hope that lessons learned from the past will prevent any similar schemes from being established.

He reiterated that the accusations of recruitment did not come from the military but from Indigenous Peoples (IP) leaders themselves, some of whom previously held positions within the Salugpungan structure. 

These leaders testified that the schools were being used to recruit IP youth as child warriors.

“Hopefully, since we have learned our lesson, DepEd and the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) can intervene immediately to prevent the establishment of these same schemes,” Gadut said.

Gadut highlighted the role of former Salugpungan officials, including IP leader Datu Guibang, who turned against the institutions and successfully advocated for their closure in Region XI.

 The military official expressed strong confidence that various agencies and community sectors would not permit the return of institutions operating under similar veiled methods.