JEDDAH, 9 June 2003 -- With three groups still claiming to be the legitimate administrators of the International Philippine School in Jeddah (IPSJ), the power struggle that has bedeviled the biggest Philippine overseas school may be far from over.

Classes opened at the school on Saturday, with Consul General Kadatuan P. Usop leading the flag-raising ceremony, during which he delivered a short talk on the history of the school that the Philippine Embassy founded in 1982.

In his talk, Usop announced for all -- school staff, students and parents -- to hear that the group of parents chaired by Fidel Hernandez had been dissolved.

Hernandez and his group, claiming they were elected by parents during an ?assembly? in front of the IPSJ gate on Gornatah Street last October, seized control of the school with the help of the Philippine Consulate General.

The takeover effectively immobilized the administration of Efren Rodriguez, chairman of the Board of Trustees chosen by parents in an election under the supervision of the Saudi Ministry of Education in 1999.

Last month, the consul general dismissed the Hernandez group from running the school, saying their administration was ?illegal? because they were not recognized by both the Saudi Ministry of Education and the Philippine Interagency Committee (IAC) in charge of Filipino overseas schools.

Usop subsequently replaced most of the appointees of the Hernandez group, a step he reaffirmed during Saturday?s flag-raising ceremony and orientation.

He announced that Marietta Catacutan, the principal appointed by the Hernandez group, was also dismissed as he had reinstated Mohammad Issa Carlos de Leon. In the first place, he said, the Hernandez group had no authority in appointing Catacutan as the new principal.

Usop appealed to the teachers and parents not to impede the progress of the school. ?This is a crucial time for IPSJ, a time for full cooperation more than ever. We need a duly elected board recognized by the Filipino community and also by the Saudi authorities,? he said.

Usop?s pronouncements did not go unchallenged.

Catacutan went on stage and asked the consul general for a written order for her to vacate her post as school principal.

Esteban Arpon, a parent leader, expressed his support for Catacutan for the sake of ?quality education?, arguing that Catacutan had better qualifications and experience compared to de Leon.

On the appointment of Catacutan, A. Saadra, a member of Hernandez?s board, argued that it was legal and valid since ?it was the honorable consul general himself who inducted us into office, and the signature on the oath of office of each of the members of the school board is legal.?

Usop declined to take up Catacutan?s challenge, saying he did not need to issue a written termination order since it was not he who appointed her.

In a telephone interview with Arab News, Hernandez said de Leon was fired not only because he lacked the qualifications for a principal but also committed irregularities. He said his group had evidence to substantiate their charge that de Leon fabricated the records of some students.

De Leon was also prone to temper tantrums, ?conduct unbecoming of a school principal,? he said in Filipino.

As an example, he said that de Leon walked out during the school?s Recognition Day last March because the board did not agree to his choice for first honors in one class.

?As far as we are concerned, it?s still Mrs. Catacutan who is in charge of the school. She?s holding office and she is directly supervising the teachers,? he said.

?We parents know what is best for the school because the future of our children is at stake,? he added.

In a letter to Ambassador Bahnarim A. Guinomla, Hernandez also accused de Leon of falsification and abuse of authority by changing the grades of students during his term as IPSJ principal.

In his turn to speak, de Leon categorically denied all the accusations leveled against him.

Parents interviewed by, or who wrote to, Arab News had mixed reactions, depending on whose side they were on.

Some of them, including those who were identified with the so-called ?Third Force,? said they supported the consulate?s takeover from the Hernandez group so that a new board could be elected. Usop promised that an election for a new board would be held on June 25 to resolve the power dispute once and for all.

In a letter to Arab News, parent Francis R. Salud said more questions had arisen, rather than been answered, as a result of the recent developments.

?Has the consul general been fair to both parties? Has the consul general been aware of the capacity and integrity of the principal he is appointing or reappointing? Has he done something about the cases leveled against Rodriguez?? Salud asked.

?Had there been transparencv as to the questioned school?s financial status? What is the consul general?s authority to appoint a new principal to dismiss the de facto (Hernandez) board after relinquishing his chairmanship? Can the school run its affairs independently without interference from the consul general?? he added.

Other parents said they were waiting with bated breath for the action to be taken by the Saudi MOE, which issued a warning last April that it would close the school unless the group of Hernandez turns over power to the Rodriguez board to pave the way for an election. The MOE letter also demanded that the consul general stop interfering in the IPSJ?s affairs.