Teacher faces probe for hitting pupils

CEBU, Philippines - A public school teacher is facing investigation after she was accused of hitting two of her pupils at the Basak Community School.

Theresa Maturan, grade three adviser, allegedly pinched her 9-year-old pupil in the ear after the latter accidentally broke a tray during their lunch last Friday.

Maturan denied the allegation saying she only reprimanded the boy for being clumsy.

“Wala gyud na nako dapati siya,” the teacher said in a television report.

According to Maturan, the pupil has been misbehaving in the class. In fact, she allegedly recommended to the parents to retain him in her class in the next school year.

But, aside from the 9-year-old, another pupil complained that he was hit in the right arm by Maturan. This time, the teacher was forced to admit that there are times that she can no longer control herself.

“Tungod man gud na sa kasipat sa mga bata makalunit ka,” she said.

Elsie Colo, principal of the Basak Community School, said she already submitted an incident report to the division office.

Colo said it is the division office of the Department of Education that will conduct an investigation into the complaint.

DepEd regional director Recardo Borgonia said Maturan will be placed under investigation. He assured that Maturan will be given due process in accordance with the RA 4670 or the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers. – (FREEMAN)