Principal who fell from roof of school building dies

Inquirer files

BACOLOD CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines — The principal who fell off the roof of an elementary school building in Moises Padilla town passed away at the Riverside Medical Center here at 10:25 a.m. Wednesday, July 31.

“It is extremely sad that he died because of his earnest desire to do something which was originally beyond his call of duty. If at all it speaks a lot about the present state of our educational system. I hope he will not die in vain,“ said Rep. Emilio Yulo III of Negros Occidental’s fifth district.

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Reynaldo Mojares, 60, along with his wife and other teachers went to Guinpana-an Elementary School on Sunday, July 28, for a last minute cleaning before the start of classes the next day.

He reportedly saw a lot of leaves on the roof of a school building and climbed a ladder to remove them.

Mojares fell off a ladder and hit his head, said Arnold Arnaez, Department of Education Negros Occidental Schools Division spokesperson.

Grief stricken co-workers and students took to social media on Wednesday to express their condolences for a well-loved mentor.

Mojares, who was turning 61, was planning to retire in December or January, Arnaez said.