Taguig set to file raps vs teacher

The Taguig City government is set to file criminal charges against a teacher who made a student eat pencil shavings as punishment, which allegedly caused her death a few days later.

Mayor Freddie Tiñga met with Department of Education officials yesterday to discuss the filing of proper charges against Brenda Elbambuena, 45, a teacher of the Silangan Elementary School Main (SESM) in Barangay Upper Bicutan.

Dr. Evelina Viloria, assistant schools division superintendent of DepEd’s Taguig-Pateros Division, said the NCR office will order the preventive suspension of Elbambuena who is being blamed for the death of Maria Delmar Redota, a Grade 2 pupil of SESM last March 14.

During Redota’s wake, Tiñga assured the family of financial assistance for the burial as well as legal help in the case. The mayor also called for a thorough investigation into the incident.

Although the cause of death was acute tonsillitis and there is still no clear evidence to point that this was caused by her being made to eat pencil shavings, the act of Elbambuena warrants them to file a case of child abuse against the teacher, said Nitz Jordan, head of the city Office of Social Welfare and Development.

DepEd is conducting its own investigation to determine if administrative charges are to be filed against Embalbuena, who remains in hiding and has not reported to the school. — Rhodina Villanueva