Teacher of fighting boys ‘not liable’

CEBU, Philippines - The adviser of the two pupils, who were engaged in a fatal fistfight in Vito Elementary School in Bantayan town midday Thursday, will not be held liable over the incident, according to the initial assessment of the Department of Education Cebu Province Division.

According to Dr. Arden Monisit, DepEd Cebu division superintendent, if the fistfight happened during lunch break, based on police’s initial investigation, the adviser of the pupils would not be held liable.

“Sagad man gud kung lunch break manguli na ang mga bata unya wala ta kahibalo kung kinsay mahibilin… ilabi na kung ang adviser wala diha kay nag-lunch pud o nipauli sad sa ilaha so maglisod gyud ta kay wala nay direct hold ang maistra,” Monisit explained.

He added that if there was a teacher nearby, the incident could have been prevented.

A five-man team from the DepEd Cebu was sent to the elementary school yesterday to investigate on the incident that led to the death of a nine-year-old pupil.

The team is composed of an administrative officer, legal attorney, consultants and leaders of DepEd organization.

The team is tasked to get the facts and background on what really happened before they will come up a situation report to be submitted to Monisit for evaluation.

So far, Monisit could not give recommendation pending situation report from the team.

“Di pa mi kahatag og comments but we will look into it as the disciplining authority,” he said.

The team is expected to arrive today.

Victim Jiel Chris Desamparado, 9, died after he was allegedly punched several times in the upper extremities by his 10-year-old classmate inside the school in Barangay Kangkaibe Thursday midday.

Both were grade three pupils.  The 10-year-old boy was reportedly teasing Desamparado when the latter got irked, leading to the fistfight.

Some teachers and members of the Philippine National Red Cross immediately attended Desamparado and rushed the boy to the Bantayan District Hospital but Desamparado was declared dead.

The 10-year-old boy was turned over by the Women’s and Children’s Protection Desk to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development for an intervention program. — Ria Mae Y. Booc/JMD (FREEMAN)