DepEd probes teacher over viral TikTok video

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) said yesterday it would investigate a teacher for “potential child abuse” in connection with a video that he posted on TikTok.

The video, which has gone viral, showed the teacher running his fingers through his hair supposedly to catch the attention of his “cute” student when she passes by him.

The video, which has been taken down, was captioned ”Tamang pa cute lang.”

The DepEd said it has instructed its regional office in Central Luzon to investigate the video and impose sanctions on the teacher who posted it. The name of the school was not identified.

The department said as an institution mandated to protect the rights of all Filipino learners, it would not tolerate any form of abuse against children.

“We remind our teachers and non-teaching personnel to always subject our words and actions, including our social media activities, to the highest degree of ethical and professional standards,” the agency said.

“As teachers and public servants, we must always champion a safe and nurturing learning environment for children, where physical, verbal, sexual and other forms of abuse and discrimination are renounced,” it added.

In a post on Facebook, the Pampanga schools division office said it has been receiving reports on the viral TikTok video of a certain teacher.

“We assure the public that our office exhausts all possible remedies to addres this matter. We have coordinated with the proper parties/authorities to take down said video,” schools division superintendent Edgard Domingo said.

”This office reminds everyone to observe the highest degree of professionalism, including the use of social media,” he added.