Teacher suspended for pinching students

CEBU, Philippines - For pinching her students' groins, the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas found a public school teacher guilty of simple misconduct and suspended her for one month without pay.

Graft investigation and prosecution officer Eleanor Tayad-de Mira said the explanation of Ma. Glynn Sumagang of Cordova Central School was not enough to clear her from charges.

"The allegations of respondent that her complained act was not intentionally done but must have been due to pressure and time constraint in view of a then upcoming activity could not be given any credence," the decision reads.

It was the mother of the students, Winnie Marie Poliquit, who filed the complaint against De Mira. She said her sons, ages 8 and 9, grades II and III respectively, arrived home from school on March 29, 2012 and told her De Mira pinched them in the groin.

De Mira reportedly pinched them when they did not heed her instruction to stop playing at the school gym. 

"…respondent approached the group of students some of whom scampered in different directions; with the aid of some Grade V1 students, respondent was able to take hold of complainant's sons; there and then, respondent pinched minors' groins," the complaint reads.

For her part, De Mira said she had no intention of harming, maltreating or injuring the students.

She explained that they were sprucing up the gym for an event the following day when some students came running in and chasing each other despite an earlier announcement that the gym was unavailable for playing. Despite calling their attention, the students reportedly kept on playing, which prompted her to approach them and pinch them.

De Mira admitted to the children's mother that she pinched her kids, but said she did so because she lost her patience due to the pressure of work. She also asked for the mother's apology.

The Ombudsman, however, said impatience is not an excuse.

"Assuming that indeed complainant's sons did not heed respondent's admonition which have well caused her temper to rise and patience to break, nonetheless, it served no excuse for said respondent to inflict upon them physical injuries," the decision reads. – (FREEMAN)