MANILA, Philippines — There is no ban on the holding of political activities in public elementary and secondary schools nationwide, Education Secretary Jesli A. Lapus said yesterday.

“There is no ban on anyone contrary to some media reports,” clarified Lapus, who was earlier quoted as having said that the Department of Education barred public schools from holding political and partisan events on their campuses.

He explained “the (DepEd) policy has been in effect over the years and was not a knee-jerk reaction or related to ZTE star witness Rodolfo Lozada Jr.’s campus tour.”

It was another story, however, in public schools in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

ARMM-DepEd Secretary Udtog Kawit said they would not allow a campus tour by Lozada in the region.

But Kawit clarified that “if the rallies are to be held outside school campuses, then there’s no problem with us.”

Lapus made the clarification after his statement drew flak from various sectors, particularly students and teachers.

But he pointed out that it was the mandate of the DepEd to look after the safety and well-being of the students.

“There are long existing orders on the holding of austere and simple graduation ceremonies in elementary and high schools … this special event is for the parents, students and teachers,” Lapus said in a statement.

Lozada has been going around various campuses in Metro Manila to discuss the corruption in government and to rally the students against the Arroyo administration. He planned to do the same in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Yesterday, militant students lashed out at Kawit for banning Lozada’s campus tour.

“While the DepEd has backtracked on its statement, the Palace would still prevent by all means Jun Lozada from speaking the truth … Anakbayan’s chapters nationwide will continue to sponsor campus tours for truth and social change and hold protests calling for the ouster of (President Macapagal-Arroyo),” said Anakbayan chair Eleanor de Guzman.

Stressing that “schools are truth zones,” League of Filipino Students chair Vencer Crisostomo asked students and teachers “not to submit to the liars and crooks in the government, including the DepEd.”

“Banning Lozada’s campus tour will only ignite more protests by students,” said Anakbayan spokesperson Katrina Sarah Maramag.

The other day, various student groups urged the DepEd to “respect academic freedom and freedom of expression in schools.”

They also urged public and private schools nationwide to make “truth, justice and change” the theme of their graduation rites this year.