Supreme Court rejects TRO plea vs K-12 implementation

The Supreme Court has rejected the petitions filed by various groups seeking to stop the K to 12 program, which is set to be implemented this school year.

In a full court session Tuesday, the SC magistrates did not issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) for the implementation of Republic Act 10533 or the Enhanced Basic Education Act and Department of Education (DepEd) Order 31, as sought by the petitioners.

The high court issued the ruling after being pressed several times to resolve the petitions filed in March last year.

With the dismissal of the TRO pleas, the high court will resolve the case based on merit.

Should the high court dismiss the petitions, there will be no legal impediment in the implementation of the K-12.

Four petitions have been filed before the SC against the program that seeks to add two more years to the country’s secondary education.

Last year, the Council of Teachers and Staff of Colleges and Universities of the Philippines filed a petition questioning the legality of the program and its implementing rules and regulations.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and two party-list lawmakers have also urged the high court to declare RA 10533 unconstitutional.

Last Thursday, another petition was filed with the high court by the “Suspend K-12 Coalition,” a group composed of college teachers and staff.

Two more petitions have been filed by the Suspend K-12 Alliance led by Bayan Muna party-list Reps. Neri Colminares and Carlos Zarate and the parents and teachers of the Manila Science High School.

The petitioners argued that the K-12 law violated their rights to due process and equal protection.

They assailed the lack of consultation with the parents and teachers prior to the issuance of the order and accused the DepEd of usurping legislative powers.

The petitioners said the DepEd order was without legal bases, noting Congress was still deliberating on the K-12 law at that time.