Aiko Melendez
MANILA, Philippines — Actress and former Quezon City councilor Aiko Melendez has slammed actor-turned-congressman Alfred Vargas for his office’s blunder in a proposed measure he has filed to ban homework for students on weekends.
In a Facebook post, Melendez called out Vargas even if the incumbent 5th District representative already apologized for his office’s mistake of including a provision in his House Bill No. 3883 that punishes teachers with penalty and jail time if they violate the “no homework on weekends” policy.
“Nagkamali daw pala ang opisina ni Cong Vargas. My take on this, oo walang perpekto sa mundo,” Melendez wrote Thursday, accompanying Vargas’ official statement of apology that she shared on her Facebook account.
Vargas’ proposed law bars teachers from giving weekend take-home work to students and stipulates a penal clause that imposes a fine of P50,000 or imprisonment of one to two years against teachers who shall violate the rule.
READ: No-homework bills filed
Vargas later issued an apology, saying that the provision was a “technical error” and that his office would correct it.
READ: QC lawmaker to remove ‘technical error’ in no-homework bill
Even if Melendez acknowledged Vargas’ apology, she added: “Pero ang pagkakamali sa isang batas na nais mo ipasa para sa bayan ay hindi biro.”
“At naawa ako na ang mga guro [natin] na halos kakarampot na nga ang sweldo meron pa na multa na 50k (P50,000),” the “Prima Donnas” actress said.
Melendez admitted that she has a sister who is an educator at a prestigious international school. She, however, defended public school teachers adding that it was unfair for them to pay the hefty fine and suffer the consequences.
“Ngayon babawiin, nagkamali ang opisina. Cong Alfred sana sa susunod bago pumirma ng batas idouble check naman kasi buhay [namin] mga tax payers at mga ordinaryong mamayan ang maapektuhan,” she said.
“May this be the last bill na magkakamali ang opisina mo,” she added. /kga