ANTIPOLO police chief Lt. Col. Ryan Manongdo yesterday said the Grade 5 student of the Penafrancia Elementary School who died after being slapped by his teacher died of “natural causes.”
In a radio interview, Manongdo said the results of the autopsy on Francis Jay Dumikib, 14, showed his death was triggered by a rare condition, adding the boy died of “cerebral edema secondary to intracerebral hemorrhage, consistent with a ruptured artery with arteriovenous malformation.”
A cerebral edema refers to the swelling of the brain while an intracerebral hemorrhage is a type of stroke that happens when tiny arteries are ruptured.
Manongdo said the mother of the student, Elena Minggoy, refused to accept the results of the autopsy.
Manongdo said the results of the autopsy were explained to the mother by Dr. Maria Lissa Dela Cruz, forensic officer of the Rizal Provincial Forensic Unit.
The police chief added that he understood the disappointment, resentment and even refusal of the mother to accept the autopsy report, which would clear teacher Mirasol Sison.
Manongdo said the student’s family could still file charges against Sison.
“If she is found guilty, the teacher could be facing from six to eight years imprisonment,” Manongdo said.
Sison has been suspended by the Department of Education.
Minggoy, who claimed the Penafrancia Elementary School principal tried to talk to her not to press charges against Sison, said she will bury her son on October 15.
“Hindi ko alam kung ano ang dapat kong gawin ngayon maliban sa paglibing ng anak ko sa darating na linggo. Pinayuhan din ako na kumuha ng secondary autopsy report (I still don’t know what to do aside from burying my son this Sunday. I was advised to have another autopsy report),” Minggoy said.
Minggoy said the school principal asked her not to press charges against Sison because the teacher is the sole breadwinner of her family.
The slapping incident occurred last September 20. Dumikib was hospitalized six days later and died last October 2.
TEACHERS GROUP REACTS
A teachers group called on the DepEd to safeguard teachers’ rights and ensure a conducive learning environment in all schools in the country.
Benjo Basas, national chairperson of the Teachers Dignity Coalition, made the call in reaction to the statement of Manongdo that Gumikib died of “natural causes.”
“According to the PNP’s assessment after the conduct of an autopsy, the slapping incident has no connection to the death of a student in Antipolo City last week. Contrary to the initial public condemnation of the teacher, this scientific investigation determined that her alleged action did not cause the boy’s hospitalization and subsequent death,” Basas said in a statement.
“We do not, however, absolve our colleague of possible administrative and criminal liabilities under the DepEd Child Protection Policy and the Anti-Child Abuse Law respectively,” he added.
The incident, according to Basas, showed the need for the DepEd to also safeguard the rights of teachers to due process and equal protection of the law.
“The government must ensure a conducive learning and teaching environment by, among other things, ensuring a sufficient number of teachers and classrooms, adequate rest for teachers, an effective guidance and counseling program, and a balanced policy for student discipline,” the TDC chair said.
DepEd Undersecretary and spokesperson Michael Poa did not directly respond to the TDC’s call and instead assured the teacher would be given due process.
“That is why we have administrative proceedings in place to ensure that respondents, whether teaching or non-teaching, are given the opportunity to be heard and afforded due process,” Poa said. — With Ashzel Hachero
