Bag-burning Bicol school official apologizes

An apologetic Bicol Central Academy (BCA) School Administrator Alexander James Jaucian faced the parents of the students whose personal belongings were ordered burned due to alleged non-compliance with the school’s “no bags” policy.

Jaucian ordered the burning of the bags, which contained items including laptops and cellphones, of Grade-12 students who supposedly defied the rule.

“I just wanted to discipline our students,” Jaucian was quoted as saying.

Administrator Jaucian, the parents of the student and members of the board of trustees of the BCA-Libmanan in Camarines Sur met for a dialogue.

Jaucian admitted that he was carried away by his emotion due to the students’ apparent act of disobedience.

A video that went viral on social media saw senior high school students standing next to their burning items while a man shouted angrily at them, “Stupid pala kayo eh!”

It was said that the students were ordered to fall in line near where their bags were torched.

“They understood that their children needed to be disciplined, but they thought the punishment was too harsh. When it involves personal property, I think it’s beyond the school’s operation,” said Dr. Gilbert Sadsad, regional director for DepEd Bicol.