The Department of Education Region 6 has received officially the  incident report submitted by administrators of Santa Barbara National Comprehensive High School in Santa Barbara town, Iloilo Province on the maltreatment of a Grade 7 student done allegedly by his teacher. 

DepEd 6 said that the issue already reached the Legal Department  Learners Rights and Protection Office and that their legal team will determine what exactly transpired inside the classroom that led to the complaint.

Based on DepEd policy, the teacher should have to explain via a show cause order. 

DepEd 6 said that should the accusation find no substantial basis, dismissal of complaint is probable. However, should strong ground be determined, a preliminary investigation will be launched. The Regional Office will determine action to the complaint. 

DepEd 6 underscored it adheres zero tolerance to maltreatment.

Earlier, the teacher went to see the boy and the boy's guardian personally at home to apologize. 

He was accompanied by staff members of the 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.

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 student’s grandmother said she is still contemplating at pursuing the complaint. 

As for "Toto," the student, 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.