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PSS properties are for official use only • PSS Commissioner seeks probe on Hopwood teacher’s alleged use of fax machine to send inmates’ letter By MAR-VIC CAGURANGAN Staff Reporter
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Posted on Oct 28 1999
Education Commissioner Rita Hocog-Inos yesterday warned public school teachers and other employees of the Public School System against using government resources for unofficial activities.
She also said she will look into reports that a teacher at Hopwood Junior High School had used the school’s fax machine to send a petition written by three inmates to Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio.
“We don’t endorse such kind of activities. We all know that we are not supposed to take advantage of public funds for personal gain,” Inos said.
Public Safety Commissioner Charles Ingram said last week his department is investigating Hopwood teacher Magdalena Concepcion, who allegedly faxed a handwritten petition from inmates Shawn Appleby, Melvin Basa, and Jeronimo Ada.
The three, who broke out of the Susupe jail last Oct. 10, explained in their petition why they escaped. The fax copy of the petition paper showed Hopwood ‘s identification number.
Concepcion earlier denied having sent the petition via fax machine, saying she “personally delivered” it to the governor.
Ingram said Concepcion had done a “great disservice” to the community by helping the prisoners.
Inos said PSS will not interfere into its employees’ personal activities “outside the school hours.”
“But during work hours, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., we are PSS employees. We cannot act as private individuals in a place of employment because PSS does not endorse that kind of activity,” Inos said.
The commissioner said she awaits Hopwood Principal Lou Mendiola’s report on Concepcion’s alleged action.
Inos said she will issue a memo to all school principals to remind them of their obligation to ensure that PSS properties are being used only for official purposes.
