Teacher nabbed for assaulting 4-year-old pupil

CEBU, Philippines —  A preschool teacher landed in jail for physically assaulting her 4-year-old pupil in a private school in Barangay Pardo, Cebu City last Thursday.

Mae Letigo, 39, a native of Negros Oriental, was arrested by the members of Pardo Police Station inside her classroom at 10:30 a.m. yesterday following a formal complaint filed by the parents of the child.

Police Major John Kareen Escober, Pardo Police Station chief, said the teacher squeezed hard the pupil’s mouth for not answering his test paper on Thursday. A copy of the medical certificate submitted by the parents to the police shows that the boy suffered injury in the mouth.

Escober said the child has also exhibited signs of psychological trauma after the incident.

"Murag trauma sa bata, wala sad gipasulod pud rong adlawa ang bata... maghinuktok na kuno ang bata," Escober said.

The Freeman tried to get Letigo’s reaction but the latter refused to issue a statement. Her fellow teachers questioned the arrest because of the absence of a warrant. But the police claimed the warrantless arrest was valid under a hot pursuit operation.

Escober said Letigo will be charged on Monday for violation of the Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection Against Child Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination. The teacher is now detained at the Pardo Police Station. FPL (FREEMAN)