JEDDAH, 12 June 2003 ? The charges of wrongdoing raised against the principal of the International Philippine School in Jeddah (IPSJ), Mohammed Issa Carlos de Leon, were ?plain falsehoods? fabricated by the recently dismissed school management, Arab News was told yesterday.
The group chaired by Fidel Hernandez had earlier accused de Leon of insubordination and of tampering with the grades of students. They also claimed de Leon was insufficiently qualified for the position of principal at the biggest Philippine overseas school.
De Leon has categorically denied the charges. In a telephone interview with Arab News, he said: ?In truth, I don?t want to stoop to their level. I have been with IPSJ for 20 years and the parents know my integrity. In showbiz they call it ?cheap talk?. These are people who do not have anything to say so whatever they can pick up, they throw at you. The parents know the truth.?
A number of parents and teachers who talked to Arab News spoke up for de Leon, however. They said it was the group of Hernandez, not de Leon, which manipulated the grades of students during the last school year, reportedly to spite their foes in a power struggle.
?The truncated administration of Hernandez and his cohorts at IPSJ was characterized by the worst kind of vindictiveness. They hit at the children of those who opposed them,? one parent said.
Among those whose children were reportedly targeted were Efren Rodriguez, chairman of the Board of Trustees that was forcibly ousted by the Hernandez group last year but which is still recognized by the Saudi Ministry of Education and the Philippine government.
One of Rodriguez?s daughters was reportedly deprived of first honors when the de facto board interfered.
?This was the reason why Carlos de Leon (the principal) walked out during the Recognition Day last March. He protested but was overruled by the Hernandez board. This was also the reason their quarrel began,? said another parent.
At least two teachers also vouched for de Leon and said there were several children who were targeted but the teachers managed to resist the interference and it was only Rodriguez?s daughter who was actually victimized. The child of Linogaranao Mapandi, a member of the Rodriguez board, was also reportedly among those who almost failed to make it as valedictorian of the high school?s graduating class.
?Unfortunately, even if they tried manipulating the grades, there was no way they could justify dropping Mapandi?s child in favor of the next-in-line,? one of the sources said. Because of this alleged interference, many of the IPSJ?s parents and school staff were said to have welcomed the dismissal of the Hernandez board from running the school.
Consul General Kadatuan P. Usop dismissed the group last week and nullified the appointments it made, including that of Marietta Catacutan, who was named to replace de Leon.
Catacutan and the other appointees had challenged Usop, asking for a formal termination order if he had the legal authority to do so. Usop had answered that there was no need since the Hernandez board was ?illegal? from the very start, making all the actions it took invalid.
Yesterday, Hernandez and his board members were reportedly barred from entering the school premises. Catacutan was allowed in but found herself barred from entering the principal?s office he occupied for at least three weeks.
A surprised Mrs. Catacutan was quoted by witnesses as saying: ?I am here for the people.?
Despite the continuing power struggle, de Leon said that the students seemed unaffected. He said 1,100 students have already enroled and many more are expected to join when they come back from the Philippines.