Warrant out vs. 5 teachers blamed for student’s death

CEBU, Philippines - A warrant of arrest has been issued against five teachers of the Cebu International School who are being held responsible for the death of two students, one of them a grandson of former congressman Jose “Dodong” Gullas.

The warrant of arrest was issued against Tyler Herbst, Susan Rigby, Socorro Laplana, Leah Joy Cabanban and Geronimo Alguno.

The warrant of arrest for reckless imprudence resulting to homicide was issued by acting presiding judge Remegio Escalada of Balanga City, Bataan, last June 27.

PO3 Rey Alcazar of the Investigation and Detective Management Branch of the Cebu City Police Office said the bail for each suspect was set at P30,000.

Alcazar said they tried to serve the warrant at CIS in Barangay Pit-os, Cebu City, but the suspects were not there.

Alguno lives in Basak, Lapu-Lapu City; Laplana in Don Pedro Cui St., Cebu City; Rigby and Herbst both live in Talamban, Cebu City, and Cabanban in Tawason, Mandaue City.

The said teachers reportedly accompanied Kyle David Gullas Weckman, Jae Hak Jung, and some 40 other Grade 8 students during an educational tour in Bataan last September.

Alcazar said they gave the teachers the chance to turn themselves in. He said they will now go after them one by one.

Weckman and Jung drowned in a waterfall at Sitio Kanawan, Barangay Morong, Bataan.

Weckman’s mother, Jacqueline Gullas Weckman, who served as the chairwoman of the CIS board of trustees from 2010 to 2011, filed the complaint with the Department of Justice.

Weckman is the daughter of Jose “Dodong” Gullas, who is also the executive vice president and vice president for finance of the University of the Visayas.

As of yesterday afternoon, the court said none of the teachers have posted bail. — with Mylen P. Manto/BRP (FREEMAN)