DepEd exec: Taguig HS student attacked outside school premises

MANILA, Philippines - The Taguig City Department of Education on Monday denied reports that last Thursday’s fatal mauling of a 14-year-old student of the President Diosdado Macapagal High School happened within the school’s premises.

George Tizon, DepEd Taguig-Pateros Administrator, said tht the incident happened at about 6:45 p.m. along 7th Street in Barangay Katuparan. He said the school is located along 6th Street.

“When we asked the principal to submit a narrative report, we learned that the incident happened at 7th street. The school is located on 6th St. which is about 100 meters away from school,” said Tizon.

Tizon said that a day before the mauling, the victim played a round of basketball with a group of minor street teenagers. During the game, Tizon said the victim allegedly elbowed one of the teenagers.

Tizon said because of this incident, the street teenagers waited for the victim as he walked along 7th St. The suspects are not students of the Diosdado Macapagal High School, said Tizon.

According to Tizon, the gang of teenagers then attacked the victim. Tizon said the victim was wearing his school uniform when he was attacked by about five teenaged boys. During the attack, the victim was punched in the head by one of the teenagers with a brass knuckle.

“He was in uniform but he was already enrolled. It appears that he wore his school uniform as he does not have any other clothes to wear,” he said.

Tizon said the victim, an incoming third-year high school student, was declared brain dead last Saturday at the Taguig-Pateros District Hospital.

“We are not considering this as school related matter. But we are planning to improve the security of the local government and barangay leaders," said Tizon.

Meanwhile, one of the suspects surrendered to the Taguig Department of Social Welfare and Development. The suspect was described by the Taguig DSWD as between 13 and 16 years of age.