JEDDAH, 2 November – The power struggle at the controversial International Philippine School in Jeddah (IPSJ) has taken a new twist, with a bloc of parents distancing itself from the group seeking to oust the present Board of Trustees.

Led by presidents of various Parent-Teacher Groups (PTG), the new faction said while it wants the BOT to step down, it also opposes seizure of power through illegitimate means.

"What we are seeking is an election in accordance with the IPSJ Constitution and By-Laws and in accordance with the rules set by the MOE (Saudi Ministry of Education)," said the third bloc in a statement.

The emergence of the third faction came to light on Thursday when Hernandez and his team served notice to all concerned that they were taking over as the new Board of Trustees (BOT).

After being sworn in on Oct. 29 by Consul General Kadatuan P. Usop, the Philippine head of mission in Jeddah, the group wrote the general director of education in the Makkah Region to seek recognition.

Inducted into office by Usop were Hernandez as chairman, Yusoph A. Saadra as vice chairman; Albert G. Pecson and Abdullah U. Abutazil as MOE representatives, Jennur S. Ailani, Reymar U. Guadania and Shamsuddin S. Junaide as parent representatives.

In his letter to General Director Abdullah Bin Mohammad Al-Howaimel, Hernandez reported that they got their mandate as trustees during a Parents General Assembly on Oct. 11.

But leaders of the third faction on Thursday said there could not be a mandate from parents because no such assembly happened on Oct. 11 or later.

"We know that because we were among the organizers of that planned general assembly that we hoped to hold inside the IPSJ compound on Oct. 11," said Nilo Lucena, a PTG president and one of the leaders of the third bloc.

As explained by Lucena and his colleagues, they gathered in front of the gate of IPSJ on Jeddah’s Gornatah district in the afternoon of Oct. 11 attempting to get in and hold an assembly.

As announced by the group in a press statement before Oct. 11, the purpose of the assembly was to discuss issues such as the refusal of the BOT chaired by Efren Rodriguez to call for a general assembly and an election, their term having long expired.

They also planned to discuss the refusal of BOT to present a financial statement of the school since last year, and other issues related to the school’s management.

But while they were waiting for the gate to be opened, police came and told them to disperse.

It was at this point when Hernandez reportedly stood up in front of the parents and other supporters who have remained and declared the Rodriguez BOT dissolved.

"What made the spectacle unusual was that after Hernandez made the declaration, one of his close friends moved that Hernandez be made BOT chairman and another cohort seconded the motion," Lucena said.

Mar Marzo, another PTG president, said it was this "deception" that turned off many other parents.

"Some of them said that if this is the manner in which a new leadership seeks to take over, they would not countenance it," he said.

No authority

Lucena and Marzo told Arab News that as a result of Hernandez’s actions, they have also withdrawn their support for him as chair of the Parent-Teachers Council (PTC). The council was composed of the presidents of the 9 PTGs, which represented each level in the school, from pre-elementary to 4th year high school.

They also pointed out that when some PTC officers questioned how Hernandez could be chairman of both the PTC and the school Board, he inhibited himself as PTC chairman. A subsequent motion seconded by members reportedly relieved Hernandez of his PTC chairmanship, making vice chairman Lito Lazo the new chairman.

"As such he (Hernandez) has no authority to continue using the PTC for his own ambition and vested interest," said Lucena.

The two PTG presidents said Hernandez’s group aggravated his "deceptive acts" by soliciting signatures purportedly for a petition calling for the election of a new BOT.

It turned out that the group used the additional signatures for a petition supporting Hernandez as the new BOT chairman, said Lucena and Marzo.

The proper way

To resolve the conflict, said the third faction’s leaders, they are pressing the BOT to now ask the MOE for permission to conduct an election.

Under the IPSJ’s constitution and by-laws, the term of the Board is two years. But a new MOE regulation has reportedly extended the term of all Boards of foreigns schools in the Kingdom to three years.

According to the IPSJ Board, Article 12 of the MOE rules, also allows the director of education to extend the term of the board by not more than one year whenever he finds it necessary.

"During the graduation ceremonies in March 2002, the director of foreign education publicly announced the extension of the term of the Board in accordance with the new rules," the Rodriguez-led BOT said in a statement on Thursday.

But the third faction of parents said Rodriguez and company should now take the initiative and ask the MOE to allow an election very soon. "We believe the MOE would grant the petition if the BOT pushes for it and follows it up vigorously," the group’s statement said.

Lucena said Hernandez and company should also drop their claim as the new trustees and help push for an election instead.

"We challenge all factions or individuals to drop their vested interests and join us in seeking a lasting solution to this perennial problem of the IPSJ," Lucena said.

For those seeking to win a seat in the Board, he said, they should do it the proper way if they want respect from parents, faculty, school staff and students.

He said he and some of the third bloc leaders were offered to occupy the vacant seats in the BOT but they have declined, if only to show an example.

"What use would it be to hold a position of power if you were not chosen properly by the members?" added Lucena, who was a former official of the Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers (PSME).