Teacher in Olongapo City Faces Administrative Charges Anew

Teacher in Olongapo City Faces Administrative Charges Anew

The Preda Foundation, represented by Emmanuel C. Drewery, a registered social worker filed on March 25, 2019 administrative cases against Franco N. Aranas, a teacher at New Cabalan National High School for violation of the Department of Education’s Child Protection Policy otherwise known as DepEd Order No. 40, Series of 2012 and for disgraceful and immoral conduct, a violation of Section 2(E) of Deped Order No. 49 Series of 2006. The complaint was filed directly at the Schools Division Office of Olongapo City.

The complaint stems from several reports received by the Preda Foundation earlier this month alleging that Mr. Aranas trafficked and sexually abused three 14- and 15-year old male high school students. In response, the Preda Foundation coordinated with the city social welfare and development office (CSWDO) of Olongapo City and together, Preda and the CSWDO sent a team to New Cabalan National High School to validate the report.

In his complaint-affidavit, Mr. Drewery said that he interviewed two of the alleged victims on March 7, 2019 in the presence of the local social worker and of their respective class advisers. One of the victims said that sometime in August 2018 Mr. Aranas invited him and a friend to eat at a fast food restaurant in Olongapo City. After which they were coerced by Mr. Aranas to go to Sunshine Lodge near Victory Liner Station. There, they were forced to engage in oral and anal sex with Mr. Aranas. After the sex acts were consummated, Mr. Aranas paid the two students Php 500 pesos and Php 400 pesos respectively and told them to remain quiet about the incident. This narration of events was validated by the other victim who Mr. Drewery interviewed on March 8 in the presence of his guardian.

Also based on his complaint-affidavit, Mr. Drewery said he interviewed the third alleged victim on March 8. According to this third victim, he too was invited by Mr. Aranas for a meal at a restaurant in Olongapo City sometime in June 2018. Then, Mr. Aranas coerced him to go to Sunshine Lodge near Victory Liner where he was also forced to engage in oral and anal sex. He was also paid by Mr. Aranas Php 500. Mr. Aranas then left the hotel hurriedly and told the victim not to tell anyone about the incident. The meet-up between Mr. Aranas and the third victim was organized and facilitated by 2 former students of New Cabalan High School who threatened the victim so he would go with Mr. Aranas to the hotel.

Last week, these three victims filed criminal cases against Franco Aranas for child abuse and trafficking. The cases are for preliminary investigation.

This is not the first time that Mr. Aranas will face criminal and administrative cases for sexual abuse of male students. Last year, a male student assisted by his guardian also charged Mr. Aranas with child abuse in the Olongapo City Prosecutor’s Office and in the Schools Division Office of Olongapo City. In these previous cases, documents will show that Mr. Aranas paid off the mother of the victim and promised he would resign from the Department of Education apparently in exchange for the withdrawal of the complaints against him. Up until now, Mr. Aranas has not resigned from the DepEd.

The Preda Foundation is hoping the DepEd will take immediate action on these new cases against Mr. Aranas to protect other students from possible harm and abuse and to give full support to the victims.

 

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