DepEd probes Manila teacher accused of forcing student to eat cockroach
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education has ordered an investigation into a public school teacher in Manila accused of forcing a Grade 7 student to eat a cockroach and threatening the child, an allegation that has led to the teacher’s arrest.
In a statement on Thursday, December 18, DepEd media relations officer Dennis Legaspi confirmed the schools division office of Manila has received a formal complaint from a parent involving an alleged case of child abuse by a teacher in Tondo, Manila. The complaint was also reported to the department’s central office through its Learner Rights and Protection Division via the Learners TeleSafe Contact Center Helpline.
DepEd "enforces a clear zero tolerance policy against any form of violence or abuse against learners,” Legaspi said, adding that any act harming a child “has no place in our schools.”
The department, Legaspi said, has since directed the field office to take immediate steps to protect the student, including class adjustments, psychosocial support, and close monitoring of the child’s well-being.
Police earlier arrested the teacher, identified as a 52-year-old man, after the Manila Police District served a warrant of arrest at the school where he teaches. He was released on bail of P120,000 earlier this week.
The victim is a 12-year-old male Grade 7 student.
Manila Police District spokesperson Police Maj. Philipp Ines earlier said the incident allegedly happened on October 15, after the student saw the teacher molesting another female student inside the school.
DepEd said it is conducting a “swift and fair” investigation and confirmed that a separate inquiry into the alleged molestation is also underway “with the end view that all learners involved are protected and assisted.”
Under the Department of Education’s Child Protection Policy, or DepEd Order No. 40, series of 2012, students and school personnel are barred from committing acts of violence, abuse and exploitation, among other illegal acts.
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