REP. MARK GO SLAMS “INQUIRY” INTENDED TO MALIGN EDUCATION INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO FURTHER DEVELOP SCHOOL LEADERS

November 30, 2024 Metro BLISTT

BAGUIO CITY

Baguio City Lone District Representative Mark Go decries certain members of the Baguio City Council for initiating a malicious and baseless inquiry into the Generate Opportunities & Lead in Education Advancement and Development (GO & LEAD) program, a well-regarded educational initiative. The inquiry, spearheaded by Coun. Fred Bagbagen and sanctioned by Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan, stemmed from an anonymous and unverified complaint. Despite being framed as “in aid of legislation,” it lacked clear jurisdiction and legal basis.

“Once again, we see the misuse of the City Council’s platform to advance political agenda. This so-called inquiry is nothing more than harassment hidden behind a so-called inquiry in aid of legislation,” said Cong. Mark Go. During the session, school principals testified to the benefits and modalities of the GO & LEAD program that was established in May 2023. They clarified that participation was entirely voluntary and consent-based, emphasizing its positive
impact on their leadership development.

The program, funded by the Australian government through the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) and was
implemented in partnership with the National Teachers’ College (NTC) and with coordination with Cong. Mark Go’s office after consultations with DepEd officials and an EDCOM2 benchmarking trip to Australia. Cong. Mark Go is the Chair of the House of Representatives Committee on Higher and Technical Education. “Despite clear, on-the-record testimonies from principals affirming the program’s transparency and success, Coun. Bagbagen, alongside Vice Mayor Olowan, chose to disregard these facts.

Instead, they focused more on the anonymous complaint and treated it as facts as opposed to DepEd principals who were actually disturbed from their official duties and were maliciously tagged as partisan despite having the courage to testify without anonymity,” Go added. Coun. Bagbagen further attempted to frame SDS Dr. Soraya Faculo’s involvement in the program as partisan political activity. However, Atty. John Paul Martin, head of COMELEC Baguio, in response, cited legal provisions that clearly define partisan activities as actions occurring during the official campaign period.

Vice Mayor Olowan nevertheless proceeded to tag DepEd principals as political institutions. “Even when the facts and legal clarifications were laid out, they persisted in their baseless accusations. This is not about governance; it’s about pushing a political agenda,” Cong. Mark stated. A cease and desist letter submitted to the City Council by Cong. Go’s legal counsel, emphasizing the lack of legal authority for the inquiry. The Department of Interior and
Local Government (DILG) previously issued opinions clearly stating the city councils lack the express powers to conduct inquiries in aid of legislation and that these are merley implied in reviewing the executive budget and an appropriations ordinance.

Furthermore, disciplinary authority over members of Congress and DepEd officials lies with Congress, the Civil Service Commission, and the Department of Education—not the City Council. “We respect the rule of law and this inquiry had no legal framework and no clear legislative purpose. It was nothing more than a witch hunt,” Cong. Mark asserted. Cong. Mark Go also highlighted previous instances of harassment, including leading questions and interruptions during past inquiries by the same councilors.

“This is not the first time that Vice Mayor Olowan and Councilors Bagbagen has done this. In the past, as summoned by their electoral ally Councilor Jose Molintas, I have appeared in good faith but was asked leading questions and was rudely interrupted so that I cannot finish my points,” said Cong. Mark Go He continued: “Baguio citizens are surely the biggest losers from this so-called inquiry. Where is good governance in this entire political circus?

Where is the transparency regarding the anonymous complainant, accountability of certain Councilors that are seeking to weaponize council procedures, and rule of law by following due process established for members of congress and DepEd employees. As the 2025 elections come near, I implore Baguio to be more vigilant against malicious attempts and violation of true good governance. What happened today, as enabled by Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan and Coun. Fred Bagbagen, is simply bad governance.”