By: Aliahcorr Balanon
Photo Courtesy: Maverick Rhoy De Vera /The LANCE
Letran-Manila hosted the ONELetran Legal Education Forum in participation of administrators and faculty from all Letran campuses—Manila, Calamba, Bataan and Manaoag on Tuesday, July 15. The forum featured a resource speaker, Atty. Joseph Noel “Erap” Estrada covering two different sessions.
Morning Session: School Violence, Discipline, Negligence
In the morning session, Atty. Estrada focused on addressing violence in school involving the recent issue of stabbing incidents in public schools.
While in a senate hearing, policymakers proposed a solution to install CCTV cameras inside the school, however, Estrada opposed this solution highlighting that, “That’s not how educators see things,”
Instead, he highlighted the importance of discipline and character formation. Estrada further explained that if it is a student issue, the focus should be on child discipline as disciplinary methods are rooted in rehabilitation.
Meanwhile, on the adult-student incidents, Estrada emphasized the doctrine of “in loco parentis” explaining that when something happens to a minor, the adult who is left may be held liable for negligence. In this case, the school should hold the faculty accountable under administrative and legal grounds.
“Education is a contract,” he emphasized, explaining that the school has a both legal and moral duty to do for a child. He also noted that discipline should not be used for punishment but rather as a method of reform.
Afternoon Session: Employee Discipline and Rights
In the afternoon session, Estrada focused on the Security of Tenure and Management Prerogative.
“If you're a permanent employee you cannot be terminated except for cause,” he said. However, misconduct and incompetence are valid grounds for disciplinary action with proper due process—substantive and procedural.
Faculty members should be notified through a Notice of Explain (NTE) and given a Notice of Decision (NOD). Estrada stated that, “Security of tenure cannot be used as a shield for incompetency.”
Furthermore, faculty shall not engage in commercial venture, tampering of grades, or sexual harassment under the Safe Spaces Act which covers verbal, non-verbal and sexual advances.
Estrada closed his session by saying, “Teaching is not a mere profession, it is a vocation.”
Insights from Academic Leader
In an interview with Ms. Sofia Charlene D. Custodio, RPm, from Letran-Bataan, shared that the topic that struck her the most was the step-by-step process in employee discipline, noting that educators rarely memorize these procedural safeguards.
“Yung NTE, NOD, 30-day suspension… hindi natin madalas kabisado. Pero dahil thorough siya na-discuss, mas naging informative.”
Meanwhile, Ms. Nadine Tersol, VP for Academics at Letran-Manaoag, shared that the idea of “education as a contract” resonated with her the most.
“Applying this in our institution means treating learners not just as recipients of education, but as partners,” she said.