[Straits Times] THE Philippine government on Thursday suspended classes at 11 primary and secondary schools on a southern island, two weeks after gunnies seized a principal in the strife-torn region.The suspension was ordered amid fears that more teachers on Basilan island's Lamitan town would be attacked, regional police head Chief Superintendent Bienvenido Latag said.
'Classes in these 11 schools would hopefully resume on Monday,' Supt Latag said, as he vowed to provide more protection for the teachers.
Last week, gunnies kidnapped principal Cecilia Sosas and a teacher from their school in Lamitan, though the teacher was soon released.
In Manila, Education Secretary Armin Luistro said teachers were temporarily pulled out from the 11 schools in Lamitan after threats were received that they would also be kidnapped.
'Teachers should be spared from any form of violence so that they can perform their duty without fearing for their lives,' Mr Luistro told news hounds.