A teacher in Santa Barbara, Iloilo Province who was accused of maltreating his Grade 7 student went to see the boy and the boy's guardian personally at home to apologize.

He was accompanied by staff members of Santa Barbara National Comprehensive High School administration in the morning of April 26, 2024.

The teacher reportedly said sorry first to both the 12-year-old boy and to the boy’s grandmother. After that, a video call was facilitated to connect him to the boy’s mother who is in Bago City, Negros Occidental. He explained to the boy's mother his side to the issue.

“Nagka-usap sila ng parent, nagkapatawaran sila. Kasi mismo si Mr. Sina-on ang humingi ng tawad kasi hindi siya nakapagpigil. Yung mga bata kasi makulit, kaya siguro naubos ang kanyang pasensya,” Marie, the grandmother of the boy referred to as "Toto," said.

Marie said she understands that teachers cannot help their anger, at times, because of various factors that affect them at work but they do not have the right to hurt their students.

“Maging leksyon sa kanila na kahit gaano pa ang galit sa mag-aaral, huwag nating ganunin. Pagalitan, pagsabihan lang nila. Huwag nang umabot sa punto na pagbuhatan ng kamay nila, pisikal,” Marie added.

The news team met the teacher, Gerald Sina-on, however he refused an interview. But he expressed off-camera that he is prepared to face the consequence of his rage. Despite accepting the teacher's apology, the grandmother said she is still contemplating at pursuing the complaint.

As for "Toto," he already received treatment from the Municipal Health Office. He received a shot against tetanus toxoid for the scrapes he sustained at the side of his mouth when the teacher pushed his face hard against a table where chewing gum was stuck reportedly by a seatmate. 

The incident stemmed when "Toto" and a classmate chewed on gum while in class. "Toto" said he had spat out his gum, but his seatmate kept chewing and later had the gum stuck to a wooden table. The act annoyed another classmate who reported it to the teacher.

The teacher approached “Toto,” held reportedly his head and pushed it hard against the surface of the table where the gum was stuck and instructed that he take it back in his mouth.

“Ang description ng bata, nasalubsob daw. Kinuha lang nya ang fragment ng kahoy na nakatusok sa kanyang bibig na evident naman during examination. Indicated sya na i-update ang tetanus na bakuna ng bata, that’s why nag-prescribe ako ng tetanus vaccination at nag-start ng oral antibiotic at pain killer sa bata,” Dr. Zoe Sucaldito, Jr., Municipal Health Officer of Santa Barbara town, said.

“Toto” is set to undergo psychological test on April 29, 2024 as recommended by the Women and Children Protection Desk of the Santa Barbara Police.

Further, the Schools Division Office (SDO) Iloilo Province received already an incident report of the Santa Barbara National Comprehensive High School. The report was submitted immediately to the Department of Education Region 6.

“So depende sa regional director sa pag-assess niya sa report na ipinasa ng school head na in-endorse ng Division Office kung ano ang susunod na hakbang as regards sa action ng teacher,” SDO Iloilo Province Information Officer Leonil Salvilla said.