INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) has clarified that two teachers in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo did not die of heatstroke while conducting their classes.
According to its Facebook post on Tuesday, its Schools Division Office in the region said that there were no teachers who were reported to have died due to a heatstroke.
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“According to the Schools Division Office concerned, no teacher was reported to have died due to heatstroke,” DepEd said.
The agency made the statement following a Facebook post of XFM Radyo Patrol Iloilo on Tuesday claiming that there was such an incident.
“Patay ang duha ka maestra sang na-heat stroke samtang nagaklase sa Sta Barbara,” the post said.
(Two teachers died of heat stroke while teaching in Sta. Barbara.)
“Suno sa doktor, lunsay may heart problem/heart disease ang maestra kag nag-trigger ang masakit bangud sang tuman kainit nga tiempo,” it added.
(According to the doctor, the teacher really has a heart problem/heart disease, and the pain was triggered by the very hot weather.)
In another Facebook post, XFM Radyo Patrol Iloilo said that one of the teachers died at their house, not at school, according to the husband of the teacher.
Meanwhile, DepEd said that the teachers passed away at two separate events and of different causes.
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“Based on official records, one of our teachers in Sta. Barbara passed away last February 2024 due to Hypertensive Cardiovascular Disease, while another teacher passed away sometime in March 2024 due to an Aneurysm. In both instances, the teachers were reportedly at home,” the DepEd added.
The agency also expressed concern over the sensationalization of some news outlets regarding the incident and extended its condolences to the teachers’ families.
Clarification: The Cebuano excerpts of this article were translated using Google Translate