DOJ to prosecute individuals claiming false errors in modules

On Saturday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said that it will prosecute those making false claims of errors in the modules of the Department of Education (DepEd). This was after DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones asked the DOJ for help. 

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said people who spread "malicious" claims about error-laden learning materials allegedly printed by DepEd may face criminal charges like cyberlibel.

We will be ready to help if there is evidence tending to show the false and malicious character of these allegations about the agency’s learning modules,

Guevarra added that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) may be tapped to help on the investigations. But for now, the DOJ has not received any request for assistance from DepEd. 

Briones said that DepEd has been conducting investigations on the issues. 

We have established that in certain instances, there are erroneous modules that are not ours but are attributed to us – they even use the seal of DepEd,

she said. 

DepEd Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction Diosdado San Antonio also stated that the agency could not be blamed for all the “errors found in learning modules,” especially those that have gone viral online. 

As a result of the erroneous modules whether from DepEd or not, the department  has been strengthening the review process of the learning materials. DepEd will also ask the help of third-party evaluators to spot the mistakes and correct the errors.