DOE investigating recent staffer arrests

by Nick Delgado

Guam - The Department of Education is launching a pair of internal investigations in light recent events in the school system. Deputy Superintendent Arlene Unpingco says they are reviewing the police reports for Untalan Middle School basketball coach Christopher Leon Guerrero.

She says Leon Guerrero no longer works with the agency.

Two students from the Barrigada campus came forward, alleging that the coach made inappropriate gestures to them. Leon Guerrero was arrested earlier this week on rape charges for allegedly sexually abusing a 7-year-old.

Said Unpingco, "What we can do with that is just take a look at the type, maybe we need to be more cognizant in taking a look at how the individual presents himself at school and be more aware of these types of behaviors if at all possible."

In the meantime, Unpingco adds they may need to launch a second investigation now that Assistant Principal Milafor Quitugua was arrested. The result of the first investigation led to Quitugua being transferred to Jose Rios Middle School. She was charged this week for not reporting that a student at FB Leon Guerrero Middle School was allegedly in appropriately touched.

Unpingco says there may also be a need to retrain DOE personnel.