Despite denying the accusations, the teacher who was accused of slapping a fifth-grade pupil at Peñafrancia Elementary School in Antipolo City will still be facing a homicide case, according to the Antipolo City Police on Tuesday.
M/Sgt. Divina Rafael, Antipolo City Police Women’s and Children’s Desk Chief, said that they visited the school to personally talk to the principal, adviser, and the involved teacher to gather more information and conduct a thorough investigation regarding the incident.
In an interview with DZRH’s Damdaming Bayan, the teacher denied the slapping accusation but admitted her hands gently touched the 14-year-old Francis Jay Gumikib’s face.
“Tinatanggi niya [teacher] na sinampal ang bata, pero ina-admit niya na dumapo ang kamay niya sa bata,” Rafael explained.
She further said that the witnesses told them that the teacher named Marisol Sison slapped Gumikib; however, in the case of the PNP, they will thoroughly investigate the incident as they have no personal knowledge of what exactly happened.
To hear Sison’s side, Rafael said that when they visited the school to ask her, the teacher said that the pupils were noisy, not pointing out Gumikib as the only one who was making noise.
“Ang sabi niya, hindi naman daw malakas. Pero inaamin niya na dumapo ang kamay niya sa mukha ng bata. Dinemo niya kung paano ang pagkakadapo ng kamay niya sa bata,” according to Rafael.
Moreover, Rafael mentioned that they are already preparing to file a case of homicide against Sison in relation to violating Republic Act 7610.
“Pini-prepare na ang kasong homicide in relation to RA 7610 hinihintay na lang namin ang magiging attachments katulad ng resulta ng autopsy at death certificate,” she stated.
For now, Sison is still under the custody of the school since the report was made later than the exact incident, which makes it not applicable for warrantless arrest.
“Papasok na yung pagsasampa ng kaso ng regular filing,” Rafael clarified.
It was on September 20 when the slapping incident happened, and the witnesses narrated that the teacher named Mirasol Quizon pulled out the 14-year-old victim’s hair and delivered a slap.
After the slapping incident, Gumikib was still able to attend his classes for three days; however, he felt dizziness, headaches, and earaches and lost his balance, so his family rushed him to the hospital.
Gumikib died 11 days after he was admitted to the hospital due to a brain hemorrhage.
Meanwhile, the victim’s family appealed to Vice President and Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sara Duterte, crying for justice over Gumikib’s death.
