Trillanes, Magdalo ask SC to stop K to 12 Program

Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes, together with Magdalo Partylist Representatives Gary Alejano and Francis Ashley Acedillo, on Wednesday, filed a petition with the Supreme Court, calling for the suspension of Republic Act 10533 or the K to 12 Law, which would add two additional years in high school.

In a Petition for Writ of Preliminary Injunction and/or Temporary Restraining Order, Trillanes pointed out that the law failed to comply with the 1987 Constitution, which guarantees the right of the people and their organizations to consultation and participation at all levels of social, political and economic decision-making. The Petition emphasizes that no representative from the people most affected by the program, particularly students, college instructors, teachers and non-academic personnel, was invited to participate, or share their views and opinions during crafting of the law.

Trillanes, the sole negative vote during K to 12 Law deliberation in the Senate, added that the said law must be suspended until an adequate and comprehensive study on the impact and effects of the implementation of the said program, particularly on the already impoverished sectors of our society - the parents, the teachers, and our youth, can be undertaken. These effects of K to 12 include the mass termination of teachers and non-academic personnel of schools, particularly of college instructors, whose services will have to be terminated because there would be no incoming college freshmen for at least two (2) years as a result of the impending implementation of the K to 12 Program.

Alejano, on the other hand, emphasized: "This is not just a simple restructuring of our education system. We are talking about the future of this country. Why risk it for a program that is likely to fail? We will do our best to suspend this Program." Trillanes and the Magdalo, together with the Coalition for K to 12 Suspension, will hold a massive protest against the program on May 9, Saturday, at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila.

Acedillo urged "I call on our countrymen, our parents and teachers, who also believe that the country is not yet prepared for K to 12 Program, to join us on Saturday in sending our message to the authorities, especially to President Aquino and our justices in the Supreme Court, that the people do not want this Program."