ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro on Monday criticized the Department of Education for asking P150 million in confidential funds supposedly to monitor students and teachers suspected to be involved in illegal recruitment.

She vowed to exert efforts to have it removed and realigned for child care.

“Is the DepEd now a police or military agency that it is conducting surveillance operations on students and teachers? Dapat pala siguro Department of Surveillance na ang tawag dito at di Department of Education,” Castro said.

“It has not even scratched the surface in solving the learning crisis as well as providing adequate classrooms and a substantial salary increase for teachers as well as hire more teachers and now it is conducting surveillance?” she added.

The DepEd had said it will use its confidential funds to address illegal recruitment activities in schools.

Undersecretary and DEPED Spokesman Michael Poa said the P150 million will be used to collect information on illegal recruitment in academic institutions and put a stop to such activities.

“This statement of DepEd is also proof that indeed it is profiling, surveilling and harassing members and officers of the Alliance of Comcerned Teachers,” Castro said.

“We will move for the confidential and intelligence funds be taken out of the DepEd and other civilian agencies and be realigned to the early child care development program because as of now it is just P221 million and is definitely not enough,” she added.