A public school principal in Masbate has publicly said sorry after his social media activity targeting two members of Congress and a well-known lawyer sparked backlash, though at least one of the offended parties has signaled the gesture may not be enough.
Randy Emmanuel V. Bulanon, who heads Dimasalang National High School, released a signed statement on August 24 addressing Akbayan party-list Representatives Chel Diokno and Percival Cendaña, along with lawyer Jesus Falcis. His now-deactivated Facebook account had carried posts mocking Falcis over his sexuality and belittling the physical appearance of the two legislators, one of whom, Cendaña, survived a stroke.
Bulanon framed his conduct as a lapse in judgment tied to his standing in the education system. “As a school head, I fully recognize that my words, actions, and social media activities may be perceived as reflective not only of myself as an individual but also of the position and institution I represent,” he wrote.
The principal conceded he ought to have shown more caution before sharing and posting the material, and he directed his apology beyond the three men to include other individuals, various social and political groups, and the Department of Education. He singled out the Dimasalang National High School community and its stakeholders in expressing regret.
In closing his statement, Bulanon appealed for leniency from anyone affected. “To those who may have been offended, hurt, or adversely affected by my shared posts and reposts, I humbly ask for your understanding and forgiveness,” he said, signing off as School Head under DepEd’s Schools Division of Masbate.
Cendaña, however, was unmoved. He dismissed the sequence of posting first and apologizing afterward as a familiar tactic, telling the public that “Apology is not accountability.” Among the posts that provoked the outrage was a sketch ridiculing the lawmaker, which Bulanon had captioned with a jab suggesting the drawing would fetch a high price at auction.
