Philippine lawmakers rally behind education minister over bullying row

Philippine lawmakers have pushed back against calls for Education Secretary Fadhlina Sidique to step down over her handling of a school bullying case, with supporters arguing that the resignation demands set an unrealistic precedent for government accountability.

Hulu Langat MP Sany Hamzan defended the education minister by drawing a comparison to other policy areas, suggesting that if officials were to resign over every incident within their portfolios, the Cabinet would face constant turnover. "Based on that logic, the government will have to replace many Cabinet ministers over road accidents," Hamzan was quoted as saying, indicating that holding ministers responsible for isolated incidents would be impractical.

The controversy centres on Fadhlina's response to allegations of bullying at a school under her ministry's purview. Critics have questioned whether the education secretary adequately addressed the matter, while her defenders argue she should not be held solely responsible for incidents occurring within the nation's vast education system.

The dispute reflects broader tensions within the Philippine government regarding ministerial accountability and the threshold for demanding resignations. Supporters of Fadhlina contend that her overall performance and policy direction should be weighed against isolated incidents, rather than allowing single controversies to determine tenure.

The education minister has not yet publicly commented on the resignation calls or the defense mounted by her political allies.