Teacher charged

Charges were filed in court against a public school teacher in Cebu City who allegedly maltreated her student.

Jovita Galvez of the Guba Elementary school will face trial on charges of violating Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

Bail was recommended at P30,000.

The Ombudsman-Visayas found probable cause against Galvez who was accused of hitting the head, flicking and pinching the ear, and poking the left ear of her student using a pencil on June 23, 2011.

Graft investigation and prosecution officer Amy Rose Rellin said in her resolution that the alleged acts committed by Galvez constitute psychological and physical abuse as well as emotional maltreatment.

“The experience of having been harmed by no less than his educator was definitely a harrowing ordeal, not only physically, but emotionally and psychologically,” the investigation said.

The victim’s mother claimed that her son was maltreated by Galvez during the dismissal of classes at around 11:30 am last June 23, 2011.

The complainant said she was surprised to see her son crying while approaching her.

Her son told her mother that Galvez got mad at him when he stood up.

The boy claimed that he stood up because of intense pain in his buttocks.

In her counter-affidavit, Galvez denied the allegations.

She said the victim was absent on June 23, 2011 as manifested in the Attendance Sheet.

Also, Galvez said the daily dismissal time was not 11:30 am as claimed by the complainant.

She said the boy told her that the scratches on his face were made by his playmates.

Galvez said their school principal examined the abrasions and compared it to her fingernails.

She said her fingernails were too big compared to the tiny abrasions as observed by the school principal.

But the Ombudsman investigator said the principal cannot be considered an authority in the examination of injuries and what could have caused them.

Also, the investigator said the Attendance Sheet used by Galvez in her defense can be easily concocted.

“We find no cogent reason as to why a five-year-old child would fabricate or concoct charges against his teacher if said child was treated kindly,” the investigator said./REPORTER ADOR VINCENT S. MAYOL