2 students in poisoning case charged

Two students of the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) have been charged before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court for lacing a water jug with mercury nitrate, which almost killed a fellow student seven months ago.

Quezon City Assistant Prosecutor Ferdinand Baylon recommended the filing of frustrated murder charges against two boys, who were both 16 years old when they allegedly committed the act at the school on Feb. 14, 2006.

The victim was a 16-year-old female student.

"The boys acted together and cooperated with one another and shared the same intention of poisoning another student by deliberately and intentionally putting a poisonous substance into her jug," Baylon said.

He pointed out that while the respondents are both minors and scholars of PSHS, these do not make them criminally exempt from the results of their criminal act.

"On the contrary, being bright students with above average intellect, it cannot be argued that they did not know that mercury nitrate is deadly," he said.

Baylon’s recommendation has been affirmed by the Quezon City chief prosecutor, elevating the case to the RTC.

The respondents can still file a motion for reconsideration to reverse the ruling.

The victim was hospitalized for over a month after drinking spiked water.

Chemical analysis showed that water contained mercury nitrate.