Teacher who ‘slapped’ student suspended

MANILA, Philippines — The teacher who allegedly slapped a Grade 5 student, who later died, has been placed under a 90-day preventive suspension, according to the Department of Education (DepEd).

A report on dzBB quoted DepEd as saying that the suspension will pave the way for administrative proceedings against the teacher.

DepEd said the suspension was not a punishment.

An investigation report said the teacher of Jay Gumikib, 14, at the Peñafrancia Elementary School allegedly slapped him at around 9 a.m. on Sept. 20. The boy’s mother said her son told her the teacher pulled his hair and slapped him.

She said her son complained of a headache, dizziness and pain in the ear when he arrived from school.

Gumikib managed to attend classes for three days after the incident, but was taken to a hospital on Sept. 26, when his condition worsened. He went into a coma and died on Oct. 2.

The boy died from ”global brain edema or swelling of the brain,” according to his death certificate. The antecedent cause is ”acute intraparenchymal hemorrhage.”

The autopsy result will be released after one week, Hector Sorra, medico-legal division chief of the Philippine National Police Forensics Group, said on Monday.

Antipolo police chief Lt. Col. Ryan Manongdo had earlier said a complaint of homicide in relation to Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act would be filed against the teacher if autopsy will show that the boy died due to physical abuse.

Police said the teacher faces a complaint for physical injuries if the autopsy result is inconclusive.