Witnesses go to NBI to recount alleged abuse at PHSA

Two witnesses went to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and recounted the alleged abuse at the Philippine High School For The Arts (PHSA), John Consulta reported Friday on “24 Oras.”

The witnesses - an alumnus and an active student - said they witnessed different kinds of abuse at the school, particularly from a former teacher who is now a house parent/admin officer.

“Siguro yung mga panahong may hinihintay nakakandong... Yung nagsabi kasi witness eh. Hindi siya yung nakaranas," said the witnesses' lawyer Atty. Francis Mangrobang said.

(Maybe there were occasions when someone was seated on a lap... That's what the witnesses said. They weren't the ones who experienced it.)

"They want to seek accountability, yun ang point doon. Na nilabas nila ito para mabigyan ng pansin, magkaroon sila ng safe space sa ginagalawan nilang environment,” Mangrobang added.

(They want to seek accountability, that's the point. They've brought this all out to bring attention to it, to have a safe space in their environment.)

Meanwhile, NBI investigators inspected and visited the school facilities where the abuse allegedly took place.

Also, the admin officer/house parent came to the NBI office but gave no public comment.

“While they gave their statements, we will still verify kung itong mga statements na binigay nila sa amin (these statements that they gave). Titignan na rin namin, batay sa aming pag-iimbestiga, kung anong aksyon ang ginawa ng school noong time na tinanggap yung records (Our investigation will also look at what actions the school took when they received this information),” said spokesperson Atty. Gisel Garcia-Dumlao.

“Hinihikayat namin yung posibleng naging biktima... napakaimportante ng role nila dito sa imbestigasyon to determine yung mga allegations na nangyari sa school and also for us to identify itong mga potential na offenders,” she added.

(We encouraged the victims... their role in the investigation is very important to determine the veracity of the allegations of what happened at the school, and also for us to identify these potential offenders.) — Richa Allyssa Noriega/DVM, GMA News