Teacher “refused” to sign clearance, 2 cousins kill selves

CEBU, Philippines - After a teacher allegedly refused to sign their school clearance, two cousins hanged themselves to death in Poblacion, Daanbantayan town.

The girl was found hanging dead inside her room Monday morning while her male cousin was found hanging from a tree the following day.

Both were 15 years old and were 3rd year high school students.

Prior to committing suicide, they reportedly sent text messages to their classmates, bidding farewell.

“Bye Hazel. Last ko na lang ni na chat. Ahm.. Dili na pud ko moproblema nga dili ko ma-cleared, dili na ko mo-school. Please ko tell ni Marifer Rosemarie nga sorry nga wala ko motingog nila cause kabalo ka naman ngano. Please ko tell nilang  Nikki nga ilang folder diri ipakuha lang. Bye, bye. Thank you sa lahat ha. Pakisabi din kay Marifer Rosemarie thank you sa lahat,” the girl’s text message to a classmate read.

After receiving such message, the classmate told her class adviser about it who ordered to check the girl.

Three of her classmates went to her house and asked her aunt’s help in opening the house.

They detached some of the jalousie blades to the girl’s room and were shocked to find her hanging inside with a belt tied on her neck.  The girl was rushed to Daanbantayan District Hospital but was declared her dead on arrival.  

Police Officer 3 Victor Avenido of Daanbantayan Police Station said the girl could not take the final examination because she allegedly failed to have her clearance signed by the teacher.

Her father allegedly reprimanded her when she asked money for her school dues.

On Tuesday morning, around 7 a.m. the girl’s cousin was found dead hanging from a tamarind tree some 100 meters away from his house.

Prior to this, the boy attended his cousin’s wake Monday night and muttered that he is better dead if he could not also take the final examination.

He did not go home that night and was found dead the following morning.

 “Me Ultimo Adios ang huli kong paalam. Mokuyog na lang ko’s akong cousin. My first subject na dili naku madawat ang Filipino complete man unta ko sa project prop si ma’am di gud mada bisan mangayo ko’g sorry, final na kuno iyang decision,” part of the boy’s message read.

He was referring to the same teacher who also allegedly refused to sign the girl’s clearance.

The boy’s elder sister posted the matter on Facebook and is seeking justice for his death.

The teacher, who drew flak from netizens who responded to the Facebook post, could not be contacted for comment. — (FREEMAN)