Snakes in a (Pasig) school

They were no teacher’s pets. Two snakes on the lookout for food made their way Thursday to Liberato Damian Elementary School in Barangay Sta. Cruz, Pasig City, where they caused quite a commotion among teachers and students.

The pythons—a male and a female which measured about a yard each— were coiled around each other and about to kill a rat when a teacher spotted them and screamed for help at 6 a.m.

Evelyn Fulgar, a utility personnel of the school who was among the first to get to the scene, said the snakes were found under a sink in the cooking area beside the feeding lobby where malnourished students are given meals.

Several children were already in school when the reptiles were spotted but they were nowhere near the area which was immediately blocked off by the teacher who raised the alarm.

Another utility personnel, Larry Bague, tried to catch the snakes but the female became aggressive, forcing him to hit it with a piece of wood.

The snake later died while its companion was able to escape. Members of the Batas Ciudad Enforcement Office arrived shortly before 7 a.m. to try to catch the other snake but although they searched for it for nearly two hours, they failed to find it.

To ensure the students’ safety, a rescue team was deployed to the school. Kristine Felisse Mangunay