DepEd condemns killing of public school teacher in Zamboanga del Sur

Zamboanga del Sur map. INQUIRER FILES

PAGADIAN CITY, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR – The Department of Education (DepEd) condemned the reported ambush of a public school teacher in Mahayag, Zamboanga del Sur on Thursday, April 11.

Jerome Etorma, 36, a teacher at the Dumingag National High School, just left Dumingag town on his motorcycle when a still unidentified gunman on a black motorcycle shot him with a .45 caliber pistol as he reached Barangay Boniao of Mahayag town at 5 p.m., police said.

Major Herminigildo Bajao Jr., spokesperson of the Zamboanga del Sur provincial police, said the assailant, wearing a mask and a black jacket, sped off towards Dumingag town.

Etorma, a resident of Barangay San Isidro, Mahayag town, sustained four gunshot wounds to the back and was rushed to the Mahayag municipal hospital. He was declared dead at around 5:40 p.m. Dr. Rosenda Bellen Ramos.

“(We) denounce this senseless act of violence against our teacher and implore concerned authorities to heighten efforts in ensuring the safety and security of our educators and our communities,” said the DepEd national office in a statement posted on its Facebook page.

The department also urged the local police to swiftly apprehend the culprits and bring them to justice.

Major Renante Benitez, chief of the Mahayag police, initially said they were focusing on one person of interest who could possibly have had something to do with the crime.