VP Sara tells teachers: Don't abuse children

After a Grade 5 student died days after allegedly being slapped by a teacher, Vice President and Education Sara Duterte on Thursday reminded educators to take care of children and not hurt them.

During the National Teachers’ Day celebration in Butuan City, Duterte raised the issue regarding the death of Francis Jay Gumikib, who went into a coma days after he was allegedly slapped by his Filipino subject teacher at the Peñafrancia Elementary School.

“Let me just remind you, all our teachers, that the children are entrusted to your care,” she said.

“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,” she added.

Duterte further told teachers that what they do will affect the lives of their students. Thus, they should ensure that their actions are “something that is positive.”

“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. You are supposed to ensure that they are happy…to learn what you are teaching,” she continued.

Duterte said that she is waiting for the result of the autopsy from authorities.

Gumikib’s death certificate showed that he died due to global brain edema, with an antecedent cause of acute intraparenchymal hemorrhage or bleeding into the brain tissue.

Noted as other significant conditions contributing to his death were presumptive pulmonary tuberculosis and child physical abuse.

The Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division Office announced Tuesday that a fact-finding investigation team was formed to look into the death of Gumikib.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR), meanwhile, has also launched an independent investigation into the matter. 

The Philippine National Police Forensic Laboratory has just finished its autopsy on the body of Gumikib.

PNP-FG public information officer Police Major Rodrigo Sotero Jr. told said the autopsy was done in Camp Crame on Wednesday.

“Kahapon po ginawa ang autopsy. Past 12 noon po dumating at around 4 p.m. po tapos na (The autopsy was done yesterday around past 12 noon was finished around 4 p.m.),” he told GMA News Online.

“As of now ay wala pa po. But the autopsy report will be released po seven working days after the autopsy (As of now, there are no results yet. But the autopsy report will be released seven working days after the autopsy),” he added. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News