The Antique province school principal who ordered senior high school students to remove their togas during their graduation rites has been relieved from her post, Malacañang announced on Friday, April 25.

Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered the relief of Venus Divinia Nietes, the principal of Col. Ruperto Abellon National School (CRANS), because of her inappropriate behavior during the end-of-school year ceremony held April 15.

“Dahil na rin po sa naging direktiba po ng Pangulo, agaran pong kumilos ang ating secretary, DepEd (Department of Education) Secretary Sonny Angara, at ang sinasabi pong guro ay tinanggal na po bilang principal sa nasabing eskuwelahan (Because of the President’s directive, our secretary, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara, immediately took action and the teacher in question has been removed as principal of the said school),” Castro told Palace reporters.

However, she clarified that Nietes was not stripped of her teaching license since she was only removed as CRANS principal.

Nietes’ fate now lies in the DepEd’s hands, Castro said, when asked about the possible charges that the relieved principal may face.

“Iyan po ay kukunin muna natin kung ano ba ang dapat na gawin pa ni Secretary Angara. Pero for the meantime, ito po ay mabilisan na aksiyon na ginawa po ni Secretary Angara (We will first take that into account and see what Secretary Angara should do next. But for the meantime, this was the quick action taken by Secretary Angara),” Castro said.

She said Nietes’ behavior would still be monitored.

A video of the school principal went viral as she asked students to take off their togas during the ceremony.

Nietes reportedly issued the directive following the students’ supposed failure to adhere to the DepEd Order 9 to keep the ceremony meaningful but straightforward, as well as the “no collection” policy, where learners were not supposed to shell out money during their graduation, including for their togas.

Angara earlier requested an exemption from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from the ban on the transfer of public officials and employees during the election period, in connection with Nietes’ relief.
The Comelec approved the request on April 24.PNA