A standard flag-lowering ceremony at Sta. Monica National High School (SMNHS) on Friday has ignited a fierce public debate over student rights and institutional conduct, as local social media platforms have become a battleground for conflicting views on school discipline.
The unrest follows a February 20 assembly where school authorities reportedly enforced a dress code by requiring students to remove “baggy pants” in a public setting. Students, speaking to Palawan Daily on the condition of anonymity, described an atmosphere of coercion. While the administration holds signed waivers from students regarding dress code adherence, the open nature of the enforcement has escalated into a polarized public standoff; while some defend the measures as necessary discipline, others decry them as a sanctioned form of harassment.
Adding to the gravity of the claims, Palawan Daily News has obtained video footage that appears to capture a teacher issuing a stern ultimatum: “We are going to burn the old flag along with your pants” (“Magsusunog po tayo ng lumang flag, isasabay na po natin ang mga pants niyo.”)
The controversy has since expanded to include allegations of classroom-level shaming and infrastructure neglect. Students describe a pattern where teachers reportedly berate those who fail to answer questions correctly, with one account detailing a student reduced to tears and another alleging a teacher slammed tables to intimidate the class. Furthermore, reports of a “sanitary divide” have surfaced; while faculty members reportedly use standard restrooms, students claim they are relegated to makeshift plywood latrines at the rear of the campus that emit a “rancid odor” detectable beyond the school walls.
Under the Department of Education’s Child Protection Policy (DO 40, s. 2012), Philippine schools are mandated to maintain “zero tolerance” for any act harming a student’s emotional well-being. The policy requires disciplinary measures to be private and respectful, reinforcing student dignity as an absolute right.
Following repeated inquiries from Palawan Daily, a head teacher at SMNHS confirmed that a press conference is scheduled on Thursday, February 26, on campus. The briefing aims to address the controversial February 20 ceremony, alongside other concerns over facility disparities and disciplinary practices allegedly rooted in psychological distress.
