Student dies after being punched in the nape by friend in Cotabato

COTABATO CITY –– The principal of Pigcawayan National High School (PNHS) in Pigcawayan town, Cotabato province, appealed to students to refrain from physical jokes after a Grade 9 student died of serious head injuries when a classmate-friend punched him on the nape in reply to
his joke.

Isidro Quitor, PNHS principal, made the appeal after Jessie Pulpul, 17, a Grade 9 student at PNHS, died due to serious head injuries.

Quitor said Pulpul and his 15-year-old classmate were cleaning their classroom at past 4 p.m. when Pulpul grabbed his friend’s neck with his elbow and told him, “Let’s go home.”

The friend, whose identity was withheld by school authorities, punched Pulpul on his nape, sending him unconscious on the floor.

Witnesses said the suspect and other classmates rushed the unconscious Pulpul to the school clinic. Later he was moved to a hospital in Pigcawayan town where he was declared dead.

“I have repeatedly reminded students to refrain from physical jokes, or confrontation to avoid accidents like this,” Quitor said.

Jason, the victim’s brother, said the family was informed that it was not intentional since the two were close friends.

The suspect was turned over to the municipal social welfare office, while the families of the parties involved tried to settle the matter.

Edited by LZB