Public school teachers exempted from robbery?

CEBU, Philippines - TEACHERS’ PRIVILEGE. In at least two separate robberies, public school teachers have been spared by criminals. This, an Ear informer jokingly said, must be the privilege of teachers, that they be exempt from robbery. He said that in a Tejero-bound jeepney robbery, a public school teacher in uniform was spared.

CHALK AND ERASER. Likewise, in a hold-up situation inside a Mambaling-bound PUJ, the robbers grabbed cellphones, jewelry, money and other valuables from all passengers, except one: A female public school teacher. The robber told his companion, “Si ma’am ayaw lang na apila. Chalk ug eraser ray sulod sa bag ana.”

INSULT. The robbers didn’t realize that the teacher was carrying thousands of pesos in cash. Because she was spared, she was able to use the money to pay for her child’s tuition fee. After the robbery, the spared teacher later said, “Nainsulto gyud ko. Hapit ko mo ingon og ‘apila ko’g tulis beh.’ “