Victim in Pisay controversy wanted to take big knife to hurt self

One of the Philippine Science High School students whose private photos were posted online by some of their schoolmates wanted to hurt herself physically to blunt the pain of getting exposed on the internet.

According to Saleema Refran's report on "QRT", the victim's statement was read by a classmate during the protest action in front of the school on Thursday.

Some PSHS students and their parents are calling on the school's Board of Trustees to reconsider its decision to allow the students, who posted the pictures of the female students online, to graduate.

"I started crying, which elevated to screaming, which escalated to running to the kitchen drawer and taking out a big knife," read the student's statement.

"I told myself, 'physical pain is better than whatever I'm feeling inside. So this is fine'," it added.

‘Locking herself in her room’

Instead of not being allowed to graduate as recommended by PSHS main campus officials, the six students who were found liable for posting the unseemly photos online should render 30 days of community service.

A victim's brother shared how the alleged child abuse and cybercrime affected his sister.

"Lagi siyang nakakulang sa kuwarto nowadays," the brother said.

"Hindi siya masyadong nagsasalita. hindi na siya yung usual cheerful self niya," he added.

In a statement posted on Facebook, the batch council and a group of students condemned the decision of the BOT “concerning the eligibility of graduation of select students in the batch.”

Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology and an ex-oficio member of the BOT, had said on Twitter the matter was now up for reconsideration.

BOT studying the matter

In a statement issued on Friday, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) urged the public to "respect the silence" of the board as it was still "carefully studying" the matter.

"No resolution is yet reached and we would like to assure everyone that this matter is not taken lightly," DOST Undersecretary Brenda Nazareth Manzano said.

According to Manzano, sentiments raised in Thursday's protest rally were "immediately conveyed" to Department of Science and Technology chief Fortunato Dela Peña, the chair of the BOT.

"The Secretary is committed to uphold due process," Manzano said. —Margaret Claire Layug/NB, GMA News