A former teacher of the Badian National High School surrendered on Friday to the police in Alegria upon learning that a warrant of arrest for child abuse was already issued against him.
Fifty-year-old Alfredo Gaballo, who once taught at the school in Badian and is now residing at barangay Sta. Filomena in Alegria, said when he was told that the arrest warrant would soon be served on him, he immediately went to the Alegria Police and turned himself in.
Alegria policeman, SPO1 Oscar Singco, told The Freeman that Gaballo was then turned over to the Badian police.
The arrest warrant was issued by Barili Regional Trial Court Judge Leopoldo Cañete for four counts of violation of Republic Act 7610, or Child Abuse Act, that Gaballo allegedly committed.
The court set a P200,000 bail for each count, or a total of P800,000, for Gaballo’s temporary liberty while his case is being heard.
Inspector Rodrigo Orbigozo, Badian Police Station chief, said Gaballo has been accused of sexually abusing one of his students who later got sick and confided to his parents about it.
There were no other details on the incident but Orbigozo said it took place nearly two years ago, and that the case had been handled by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, which filed the charges against Gaballo.
The Department of Education has also been conducting an administrative investigation against Gaballo. — Edwin Ian Melecio/RAE