90-day suspension for teacher who hammered pupil's finger

POZORRUBIO, Pangasinan, Philippines – The Department of Education (DepEd) Region 1 office has slapped a 90-day preventive suspension without pay against a grade one teacher pending investigation about a complaint filed against her for allegedly hammering a finger of her pupil.

Based on information e-mailed to The STAR by Tina Ganzon, DepEd’s director for communications, the order was issued on Sept. 13 by Regional Director Ligaya Soledad Miguel against Zenaida Catbagan, Teacher III of Palguyod Elementary School here.

On Sept. 15, a formal charge for Grave Misconduct and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service was filed by DepEd Region 1 after finding that there exists a prima facie case against Catbagan.

DepEd assigned Gloria Leoveras, public schools district supervisor-in-charge of Special Education in Pangasinan Division II, to conduct trauma briefing to Sean Carlo Fernandez and his parents, the report said.

It added that coordination will be made with the Department of Social Welfare and Development to ensure that proper care is given to the victim.

The complaint stemmed from a complaint filed by Fernandez’s parents after Catbagan allegedly hammered their son’s right ring fingernail around 4 p.m. on Aug. 25.

According to a report submitted by public schools district supervisor Gavino Bautista to Lino Rivera, undersecretary for regional operations, the incident was triggered by the pupil’s alleged repeated cases of stealing money and other things, including snack items, from his classmates.

On Aug. 26, the school head conducted a dialogue with the parents of the victim and the victim’s mother asked that her child be transferred to another class within the school and for Catbagan to be transferred to another school within the district.