Abused during CVIRAA, complaint filed vs teacher who ‘sexually violated’ boy

CEBU, Philippines - Asturias, Cebu police have filed a criminal complaint for child abuse yesterday against an elementary school teacher who allegedly sexually abused a Grade 6 student.

The complaint was placed under preliminary investigation before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.

The 11-year-old victim alleged that he was molested by the Talisay City Central School teacher on February 26 during the Central Visayas Regional Athletics Association in Asturias town.

The FREEMAN is withholding the names of the parties due to the nature of the case.

Mayor Johnny De los Reyes said the incident has placed Talisay City in a bad light the teacher should be sanctioned, saying he felt ashamed over what the suspect did.

"Bati kaayo nga balita nga misugat nako sa akong pag-adto sa Balamban. Unta congratulations ilang isugat nako pag-abot didto, pero gisugat ra man ko og ngil-ad kaayo nga balita. Kinahanglang madisiplina gyud ang maong teacher," De los Reyes said.

Based on a report, Dr. Lea Noveras, Talisay City Schools Division superintendent, said the incident happened outside the classroom, while athletes, coaches, and teachers gathered and prayed for the success of their team.

Noveras said the minor was allegedly called by the teacher and brought at the back of the room, where he allegedly took advantage of the minor inside a multicab.

According to a police report, the student reportedly received P100 from the teacher, who instructed him not to tell anyone about what had happened.

It was on February 28 when the minor confessed to his coach what the 27-year-old teacher did to him. They then reported the matter to the Asturias Police Station Women and Children’s Protection Desk, which filed against the teacher a complaint for violating Republic Act (RA) 7610, or the Special Protection of Children against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

The minor was immediately placed under medical examination after that.

Department of Social Welfare and Development-7 Children Sector Focal Person Grace Yana said psychosocial intervention must be done to the victim to prevent him from developing a more serious condition like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

"If left untreated, the situation develops into PTSD. This is the worst scenario that could happen, where professional therapists and psychologists' help is needed. It is important that the child expresses his feeling and thoughts, especially to his family," Yana said.

She told The FREEMAN they are closely coordinating with their Talisay City counterparts in making sure that the child gets enough psychological and emotional intervention.

"So far, our help is still not needed because we have the city social welfare office in Talisay as frontliners. But we at the regional office can provide technical assistance should they need any,” Yana said.

“It is very important for the child to be removed from the situation or environment where he experienced the trauma and that his family and friends surround him with positive regard and support that he needs," she added.

Yana said the psychosocial intervention is best done simultaneous with the police blotter and medico-legal processes and not later since the experience is still fresh.

A traumatized child could display the following behaviors: blank stare, episodes of bad dreams, lack of appetite for food, among others.

Yana said that teachers in the region have been trained to conduct psychosocial intervention as trainings were conducted after the Bohol earthquake and super typhoon Yolanda in 2013.

"So even if social workers are not readily available, some teachers can process the victim to lighten the burden of the ones traumatized," the DSWD-7 official said.

Meanwhile, in yesterday's Talisay City Council session, Councilor Richard Francis Aznar called on the Department of Education to investigate the matter.

"As a legislator, a concerned citizen, and a parent, I request that our DepEd would investigate the incident and propose measures to avoid similar incidents from happening again," said the council committee on education chairman.

Aznar, whose family owns a university in Cebu, said he was saddened by the incident, as he has a very high regard of teachers and look up to them as second parents while he was still a student.

"Let the proposed guidelines protect our children and teachers so that we, as parents, will be confident when entrusting our children to them, and then the teachers will be confident in their profession since they know they are admired and trusted," he said. —/RHM (FREEMAN)