Student's mother files P1 million damage suit vs. school

CEBU, Philippines - Because of shame after her daughter was not awarded the first honor, a mother filed more than P1 million damage suit against a sectarian school located in Capitol Site, Cebu City.

Indayon Quijada of Tungkil, Minglanilla filed the civil complaint before the Regional Trial Court against the Capitol Center SDA Elementary School represented by Dr. Glenda Locop and Emma Nudalo, chairman of the board and principal, respectively.

Quijada is demanding P1,040,000 in moral, exemplary and consequential damages after they were allegedly put into shame by the respondents’ eleventh-hour decision to change the academic standing of her daughter.

According to Quijada, the principal told them few days before the graduation on April 4 that her daughter is graduating with the highest honors as what have the board of directors of the school, headed by Locop have decided.

Because of so much joy, Quijada said they relayed the information to their neighbors, friends and relatives. However, they were surprised during the graduation day to find out that her daughter only received the second honors.

“Plaintiff felt exceedingly shamed, she felt the pain of being thought of as having fooled and deceived her friends, associates, neighbors and relatives who were then present and the others who were not present but had already been told,” Quijada said.

She claimed the shame that the incident has caused to her family prompted her to file the complaint and had forced her to engage the services of a lawyer. — Fred P. Languido/WAB (THE FREEMAN)