Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday paid her respects to Grade 5 student Francis Jay Gumikib from Antipolo City who died days after he was allegedly slapped by his teacher.
Duterte — who also sits as Department of Education secretary — extended her heartfelt condolences to the mourning family as she also gave her moral support to cope up with the circumstances the family were facing.
Duterte was joined by Education Undersecretary and Chief of Staff to Office of Secretary Michael Poa.
The Rizal police provincial office also expressed its sympathies and provided route security in the area.
“The PNP will pledge to continue the investigation and ensure police assistance will be rendered to the family,” Rizal police provincial director P/Col. Rainerio de Chavez said.
To recall, the student of Peñafrancia Elementary School, died on 2 October, at least 11 days after he was hospitalized after being reportedly hit by his Filipino teacher.
His death certificate showed he succumbed to global brain edema or brain swelling with an antecedent cause of acute intraparenchymal hemorrhage or bleeding into the brain tissue.
Also indicated in the document are other significant conditions contributing to his death including presumptive pulmonary tuberculosis and child physical abuse.
However, forensic expert Dr. Raquel Fortun questioned the insufficient data in the document including the underlying cause of death, which can determine why the victim suffered a brain hemorrhage.
She also said it should be considered the victim suffered from tuberculosis and there was an 11-day period between the alleged assault and his death.
“It can produce meningitis. Are we not dealing with meningoencephalitis? An inflammation of the brain and the covering? And that can be from bacteria,” Fortun said.
Gumikib’s mother is open to the possibility that her son might have contracted tuberculosis but said she still suspects that the alleged hitting was related to his demise.
“He was healthy so where did the brain swelling come from?” said the student’s mother.