Teacher nabbed for allegedly molesting Grade 6 student in Pangasinan

A public school teacher was apprehended in Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan, for allegedly molesting a 12-year-old student.

An initial investigation showed the suspect allegedly asked the Grade 6 pupil to attend the practice for the graduation ceremony on Sunday, May 12. However, there was no graduation practice, and the male teacher reportedly molested the minor inside a classroom.

“Umiiyak ang anak ko na nagsusumbong sa akin na ‘ayaw ko na pumasok dahil ang teacher ko bastos’. Anong ginawa? Saka kinuwento na niya ang nangyari sa kanya,” the victim’s mother told GMA Regional TV One North Central Luzon’s Russel Simorio in a report on “24 Oras" on Tuesday.

(He went home crying and said he doesn’t want to attend school anymore because of his teacher. We asked him what happened, and he told us about the incident.)

“Para sa anak ko, sobrang sakit bilang ina,” she said.

(It hurts me as a mother.)

The teacher was arrested in a follow-up operation after the victim’s parents sought help from the police.

“Maraming beses daw ngayon lang naglakas-loob na mag-complain,” said Sta. Barbara Police Station chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Jun Wacnag.

(It seems that this happened repeatedly, and he finally had the courage to complain.)

GMA Integrated News reached out to the suspect for comment, but he declined to issue a statement.

Meanwhile, the Department of Education in Region 1 is waiting for the filing of a formal complaint to start its own investigation.

“Pero just in case na ang resulta ng investigation o inquiry na isinagawa ng Department ay may kaukulang aksyon naman ang DepEd,” said DepEd Region 1 public affairs unit head Cesar Bucsit.

(We will take action after the investigation.)

“Dapat may official complaint ‘yung parents,” Bucsit added.

(There should be an official complaint from the student’s parents.)

The victim’s parents said they would pursue charges against the teacher. —Sundy Locus /VBL, GMA Integrated News