CIS teacher did not exit PHL from Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - As far as the records of the Bureau of Immigration-7 are concerned, a teacher facing charges for the death of two students did not leave the country through Cebu.

This was confirmed by alien control officer Casimiro Madarang III of the BI-7 to The Freeman yesterday.

He said upon reading in the newspaper about Susan Rigby leaving the country, he then called their office and found out she did not exit through Cebu.

Madarang said he presumed Rigby exited the country in another province. He said he will verify this.

Rigby is one of  five teachers charged for reckless imprudence resulting to homicide before the court following the drowning of two students of the Cebu International School.

Last July 8, 2012, Rigby, a Canadian, reportedly left the country despite a hold-departure ordered issued against her by the Department of Justice.

Rigby and four others were chaperoning CIS students during a field trip in the former US Naval Base in Subic, Bataan, and the former US Air Base in Clark, Pampanga September 12 last year.

Kyle Weckman, 14, a Grade 8 student and James Jung, 13, a Korean, drowned in a waterfall during that trip.

In his complaint, Jacqueline Gullas-Weckman, the mother of Kyle, said her son died due to the alleged negligence of the teachers for not guiding their students and not giving warning of possible danger.

She said prior to the field trip, one of the activities submitted to them was a community outreach program and a “small falls trek with survival technique” at Kanawan Falls.

She said when students and respondents arrived at Kanawan falls at 2 p.m. from an outreach program, Rigby allegedly jumped first into the falls and encouraged others to follow. She said her son and others followed Rigby without any lifevest.

Lawyer Sylvia Almase-Suarez said they learned of Rigby’s exit from the country from online news. She said although there was a lookout bulletin, the latter was allowed to exit.

She however, said the exit of Rigby, is still subject for verification before the BI.

She also said another of the accused, Tyler Herbst, was able to leave the country last December.

Rigby and other accused were able to post a P30,000 bail for their temporary liberty following the issuance of an arrest warrant. They posted bail in Danao City during the first week of July.

Aside from the criminal case, the Weckman couple also filed a civil case for quasi-delict, violation of special parental authority and damages with prayer for temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction and hold departure order against the teachers before the court in Cebu City.   (FREEMAN)