PNP, DepEd launch joint probe into Grade 4 student's death after deworming

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is set to conduct a joint investigation with the Department of Education (DepEd) into the death of a Grade 4 student after he fell ill following a school deworming activity.

“The chief of police of Trece Martires is already coordinating with the DepEd,” PNP spokesperson P/Col. Allan Rae Co said in a “24 Oras” report of Oscar Oida on Monday.

“This does not mean na meron po tayong nakikitang negligence or any liability there, but there was a death and a child at that. So ‘yung chief of police po natin ay kasalukuyang nakikipag-ugnayan with DepEd for the conduct of a joint investigation,” he added.

(This does not mean that we see any negligence or liability here, but there was a death — and a child's death at that. Our chief of police is currently coordinating with DepEd to conduct a joint investigation.)

In a statement, the PNP Trece Martires Component City Police Station advised the public to avoid sharing unverified information related to the incident.

“Mahalaga pong hintayin ang resulta ng masusing imbestigasyon at iba pang kaukulang pagsusuri bago magbigay ng anumang konklusyon,” the statement read.

(It is important to await the results of a thorough investigation and other relevant examinations before drawing any conclusions.)

In Oida’s report, DepEd similarly appealed to stay calm and refrain from making judgments until the investigation is concluded.

“Sa social media, merong mga nare-receive daw siyang mga, ano, kaunting threats ganyan o pang-iinsulto,” DepEd Governance and Operations Assistant Secretary Roger Masapol said.

(The teacher has been receiving some minor threats and insults on social media.)

“Kaya nag-provide kami ng psychological first aid sa mga nurses natin and doon mismo sa teacher na nag-administer nung deworming,” he added.

(Because of that, we provided psychological first aid to our nurses and to the specific teacher who administered the deworming medicine.)

The Grade 4 learner, Rex, was from Hugo Perez Elementary School-Annex in Trece Martires City, Cavite.

According to Rex’s death certificate, the immediate cause of death was septic shock due to a central nervous system infection.

His parents, however, suspect he was given an overdose of deworming medicine and have called for an investigation into his death.

On Monday, Rex’s parents went to the National Bureau of Investigation to report the incident. — Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/BAP, GMA News