Teacher faces rap for hitting pupils with shoe

ROXAS CITY—A female public school teacher is facing 25 counts of child abuse for allegedly hitting her pupils using the heel of her shoe last year as punishment for failing to pay P25 in contributions.

Pupils of Plaridel East Elementary School accused their economics teacher, Susan Balgos, of violating Republic Act No. 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

The charges were filed at the sala of Judge Jeffrey Almalbis of Regional Trial Court Branch 14. No warrant of arrest had been issued but a bail of P80,000 for each count had been recommended.

Maritess dela Tiaza, lawyer of Balgos, said her client denied the allegation and would file a motion at the Department of Justice to stop the filing of the case.

On Oct. 18, 2010, 47 pupils complained to police that Balgos hit them one by one on the head with the heel of her shoe after she got angry when they failed to pay P25 each.

The amount was part of the P100 that each pupil would have to pay as contribution for new tiles for their classroom floor.

According to the pupils, Balgos told them that the contribution was approved by the school principal, Jocelyn delos Reyes. But only one of the 48 pupils was able to pay the full amount of P100.

The teacher allegedly warned the pupils that she would hit them again, “this time using a shoe heel with feces on it,” if they complained, the pupils said.