Zamboanga teacher had sex with student

ZAMBOANGA CITY - A public school teacher is in hot water after he allegedly lured and had sex with his 14-year old student in a motel here.

The 27-year old teacher from the Maria Clara Lobregat High School in the village of Divisoria was investigated by the police and initially denied the allegations only to admit it after medical examination showed lacerations on the victim's private parts.

The victim's family said it is pressing charges even after the teacher offered to marry the minor, who is now in Grade 9. This was also confirmed to The Mindanao Examiner by one of the victim's relatives. "The family is really shocked by this incident and wanted to press charges against the teacher," the source said.

Local radio reports also said that police have investigated the teacher and are also preparing criminal charges against him. Brigada News FM Zamboanga reported that Divisoria Police Station 5 commander, Maj. Alvin Cabayacruz, revealed that medico legal done on the student showed she had sexual contact.

According to Cabayacruz, the teacher denied the accusation, but eventually admitted following the results of the medico legal. The teacher, who is facing charges of statutory rape, alleged that the student voluntarily went with him to the motel.

The victim, whose parents are separated, was taken by social workers.

Just recently, another high school teacher here was accused of hurting his 17-year old student. The Grade 9 student said he was hit in the head by his teacher after asking permission to go home due to the pain in his stomach.

The victim said without any warning, the teacher suddenly hit him in the head in front of his classmates and another teacher inside the classroom. The incident occurred Tuesday, November 22, inside the Zamboanga City High School Main Campus.

“I was just asking permission to go home because my stomach was really hurting, then my teacher suddenly hit me in the head, in front of my adviser and classmates. I was shocked and traumatized by his action and I just left the classroom,” he told The Manila Times.

The student claimed his adviser did not do anything. The victim’s mother condemned the physical abuse his son suffered in the hands of his teacher and is mulling charges against him. “Teachers are not supposed to inflict pain or hurt their students. This is totally wrong,” she said.

The victim alleged that other students also suffered the same humiliating incident from the same teacher. Corporal punishment is the most widespread form of violence against children. It is any punishment in which physical force is used and intended to cause some degree of pain or discomfort. It is a violation of children’s rights to respect for human dignity and physical integrity.

Incidentally, both students are cousins, although they live in separate houses. (Mindanao Examiner)