TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines- The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) will be filing criminal charges against the teacher who slapped one of her kindergarten students during class in Tuguegarao City.
In an interview on Friday, August 18, lawyer Jimmy Baliga, the regional director of CHR-Cagayan Valley, said his team have launched their own investigation Friday.
“Definitely, ifa-file ‘yung kaso niyan. Aside from the administrative charges, posibleng makasuhan siya ng [Republic Act] 7610,” Baliga said, referring to the law protecting the children from abuse, exploitation and discrimination.
The slapping incident was caught on video and had been viral after it was uploaded in several social media pages. The teacher was identified as working at the Namabbalan Elementary School in Tuguegarao City.
The 48-second video, which was taken through a window just outside the classroom, showed the teacher shouting as she talked to one particular student working on an exercise on matching two similar items in a set of 3.
The teacher was overheard shouting to the student: “Tingnan mo lang….’Hindi ko alam?’ Wala kayong mga mata….Ano ang pareho dito sa 3 (Just look at it….’I don’t know?’ You don’t have eyes….What are the same among these 3)?”
When the student still got the answer wrong, she slapped him.
Abuse, maltreatment
Baliga said they only need the statements of the parents and child to proceed with the filing of charges for the abuse and maltreatment towards the victim.
“Alam naman natin, sa schools yang mga ganyan punishments are not allowed. No contact policy, kahit verbal language yan ay already violation,” Baliga said.
He added that the incident might have been “traumatic” for the child victim.
Baliga also said that the being pregnant of the teacher has no bearing on their plan to file charges, “Her being pregnant is beyond the point. There’s no reason for her to slap, even if she’s pregnant.”
The CHR launched the investigation the same day the Department of Education (DepEd) convened the Child Protection Committee of the said school. Northernforum.net
