The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is set to prioritize the investigation probe on alleged abuses at the Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA), following a request from Education Secretary and Vice President Sara Duterte.
Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said the NBI has been given the order and that the DOJ “will help VP Sara” who earlier wrote the NBI and requested a “comprehensive report on the issue.”
NBI officer-in-charge Medardo de Lemos confirmed that his agency received Duterte’s letter, ABS-CBN News reported.
The official said the letter has been given to the NBI’s deputy for investigation and that a special team will be formed.
In a separate statement, NBI spokesperson Gisele Garcia-Dumlao said the NBI “has already referred the case for investigation to one of our Investigative Divisions,” ABS-CBN News further reported.
A June 2022 report by the VICE World News said some current and former students of the PHSA, which is in Laguna, claimed to have experienced “sexual, verbal, and emotional abuse from some teachers and staff of the institution.”
Current students and alumni signed a letter in January this year urging the PHSA administration to ensure the campus would be safe from abuse. Child rights advocates have urged authorities to investigate the allegations.
The PHSA administration countered the allegations saying the allegations are “unfair.” The school also denied its portrayal as a “haven for abuse” and promised to continue ensuring the safety of its students.