Forensic expert questions slapped student's death certificate

A forensic pathologist on Thursday questioned the insufficient data in the death certificate of victim Francis Jay Gumikib, according to Jonathan Andal’s report on “24 Oras."

The document showed Gumikib, a Grade 5 student from Peñafrancia Elementary School, died of global brain edema, with an antecedent cause of acute intraparenchymal hemorrhage or bleeding into the brain tissue. Other significant conditions contributing to his death are also presumptive pulmonary tuberculosis and child physical abuse.

“Gaano ba kalakas ang isang pagsampal?  Was it really pagganito. Kasi you have to consider baka naman fist,” Dr. Raquel Fortun said.

(How strong is a slap? Was it like this? Or it may be a fist.)

“Makapal ang atin laman dito and ‘yung mga buto-buto mo dito sa neck, hindi yan basta-basta. Nakakamatay ba ang isang sampal na one time?” she said.

(Our muscles here and around our neck are thick. Is a slap detrimental?)

Fortun also pointed out that the underlying cause of death, which can determine why Gumikib suffered a brain hemorrhage, was not written in the death certificate.

She also said it should be considered the victim suffered from tuberculosis and there was an 11-day period between the alleged assault and his death.

“It can produce meningitis. Are we not dealing with meningoencephalitis? An inflammation of the brain and the covering?  And that can be from bacteria,” said Fortun.

Gumikib’s mother is open to the possibility that her son might have contracted tuberculosis but said she still suspects that the alleged hitting is related to his demise.

“Wala naman po siyang sakit, malusog. Saan po ba nanggaling ‘yung pagkabagok ng utak niya o ‘yung pamamaga, hemorrhage?” she said.

(He was healthy so where did the brain swelling come from?)

Police are still investigating if the reported slapping is connected to the victim’s death.

Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) Antipolo, the school principal, and the mayor of Antipolo City visited the bereaved family earlier and promised burial assistance.

The Commission on Human Rights has launched a motu propio investigation into the  “alarming” incident while the Department of Justice said any form of abuse against children may be considered a crime.

For her part, Vice President and concurrent DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte issued a reminder to teachers on National Teacher’s Day.

“Whether it be physical, sexual, verbal abuse, you don't do that to children, especially those that are entrusted to your care fully by the community, by their families,” said Duterte.

“You are supposed to take care of them, you’re supposed to mold them into the best citizens that we can have for the future of our country,” she said.—Sundy Locus/LDF, GMA Integrated News