THE REGIONAL office of the Department of Education in Bicol has warned its teaching and non-teaching personnel against engaging in illegal drugs.

The advice came after a public school teacher was recently nabbed by authorities in possession of shabu worth P1.7 million in a buy-bust operation in Nabua town in Camarines Sur.

DepEd-Region V director Gilbert Sadsad ordered the validation of both the arrest and the report.

“We understand that this case will be under the jurisdiction of the criminal courts, but nonetheless, we will apply our rules on administrative process and act on any administrative complaints that may be filed against him in our office,” Sadsad said in a statement.

The education director added the department would review the teachers’ workload for the coming school year and take action if necessary so classes and learners would not be affected.

“As DepEd strongly supports the government’s efforts in the fight against illegal drugs, we will cooperate with the authorities if they need our help relevant to this case,” he said.