'Slapped' student's death certificate shows brain edema

The 14-year-old student from Antipolo City who died days after allegedly being slapped by a teacher succumbed to global brain edema, Jonathan Andal reported Wednesday on “Balita Ko.”

Victim Francis Jay Gumikib, a Grade 5 student from Peñafrancia Elementary School, passed away 11 days after he was hospitalized for earache and vomiting.

His death certificate released earlier showed Gumikib died due to global brain edema, with an antecedent cause of acute intraparenchymal hemorrhage or bleeding into the brain tissue.

Also indicated in the document are other significant conditions contributing to his death including presumptive pulmonary tuberculosis and child physical abuse.

Elena Minggoy, the victim’s mother, said she was not aware that her son was suffering from any illness prior to his death. However, she said Gumikib exhibited several symptoms when he was rushed to the hospital including headache, eye pain, vomiting, and earache.

The elementary student also vomited blood in the emergency room and was later diagnosed with a lung disease.

The school principal coordinated with the bereaved family on Tuesday evening to relay the involved teacher’s request to talk with them.

But Minggoy said she is still not ready to face the teacher.

“Sabi ko po, sa ngayon, ‘wag po muna kasi masakit. Okay lang sa ibang teacher na nagmahal sa mga anak ko lalo na kay Francis, pero siya na nanakit sa anak ko, hindi ko pa talaga kayang makita siya sa ngayon,” the mother said.

(I said I don’t want to meet her now because it’s painful. I’m okay with the other teachers who loved my children, especially Francis, but not with the teacher who hurt my child.)

“Umiiyak daw po ang teacher… Sobrang pagsisisi. Tapos sinabi ng teacher na ‘yan lang din ang pangkabuhayan ng teacher kasi wala namang trabaho ang asawa [niya],” she added.

(I was told the teacher was crying and regretting what she did. She also said that teaching was her only livelihood and that her husband has no job.)

Minggoy, however, stressed that she will pursue the case against the teacher.

She also said she wants the teacher to remain in the school while the investigation on the incident is still ongoing.

“Pero ang sa akin lang po, mas gusto ko na habang nandito po, habang kinakaso ang anak ko, mas gugustuhin kong diyan pa rin siya magturo sa eskwelahan,” Mengoy said.

(I'd rather have the teacher remain teaching at the same school while the case is being readied.)

“Mas gusto ko na nandiyan siya, naalala niya kung anong ginawa sa anak ko,” she continued.

(I want her to remain there and remember what she did to my son.)

Gumikib’s remains will be transferred to Camp Crame in Quezon City for autopsy. The expected date for the release of the results is still unknown.—Sundy Locus/Giselle Ombay/LDF, GMA Integrated News