A Grade 3 student died a few days after she was struck on the head with a notebook during a fight inside a public school in Davao City.
The incident in the school happened on July 17, 2026.
It was the girl’s male classmate who struck her and the student admitted the same to a teacher.
“Nangyari daw po ay nag-away ang dalawang bata. Allegedly, hinampas ng subject ‘yung batang babae ng notebook sa ulo. As of this time, ito pa lang po ang confirmed talaga na ginawa nung batang lalaki sa batang babae wherein inamin niya sa teacher na hinampas niya talaga sa notebook ‘yung babae,” Sta. Ana Police Station Chief, Major Marc Hedssel Culaste, said.
After the incident, the girl reportedly experienced body pain and she was made to undergo a massage.
On Tuesday, July 21, 2026, the girl was brought to a hospital and she died later in the afternoon.
Police said the physician’s initial findings showed that the girl died from brain failure and traumatic brain injury.
Authorities are still awaiting additional medical reports.
“So, ang initial findings ng physician, meron silang referral letter, cause of death po is brain failure and traumatic brain injury. As of this the moment, meron pa kaming hinihintay na medical findings report ng health institution wherein result ng ultrasound kasi pina-ultrasound din ang tiyan ng bata,” Culaste added.
BULLYING?
The girl’s mother told the Sta. Ana Police Station that her daughter was allegedly a victim of bullying at school.
The school administration has yet to issue a statement, as of this writing.
According to the Department of Education-Davao (DepEd-11), the DepEd Davao City Division has already launched an investigation into the incident.
“Ang pag-employ og psychosocial intervention didto mismo sa concerned nga klase ug if need gyud makita sa eskwelahan ang kinatibuk-ang school population. Ang immediate action nga gipahiluna sa DEPED Davao City is to provide what they can provide nga appropriate assistance didto sa pamilya intawon sa hingtungdan,” DepEd-11 Spokesperson, Jenielito Atillo, said.
GMA Regional TV One Mindanao is reaching out to the girl’s parents, as of this writing.
