DepEd honors Cotabato student’s bravery

MANILA, Philippines — Department of Education Secretary Sonny Angara honored the extraordinary bravery of a learner during a school shooting in Banga town in South Cotabato on Sept. 18, as the DepEd launched the National School Safety Week at Cainta Elementary School yesterday.

Angara conferred the DepEd Heroes Award to Bryan Ezel Pamonag, saying the 14-year-old Banga National High School student’s courage is inspiring.

He noted that, despite sustaining a gunshot wound to his arm, Pamonag braved the danger by confronting the assailant, closing the classroom door and blocking the window to buy time for his classmates to escape to safety.

“Bryan’s courage is inspiring and serves as a reminder of our responsibility to ensure that every child has a safe environment where they are free to learn, dream and reach their full potential,” Angara said.

During the awarding, Pamonag recalled that his only focus when the incident happened was to save his classmates.

“The wound on my hand will heal, but the pain of losing our classmate, along with all the other victims and those who perished in this tragedy, serves as a constant reminder of the value of every human life,” Pamonag said.

In the same ceremony, Angara also presented the DepEd Achievers Award to Fountain International School students Jamil Oumar Hataman, Mateo Antonio Sarandi, Prince Akram Qayum and Mysha Mahreen Macabuat.