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[av_heading heading=’‘Shed light on our kid’s death’ ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY MAE SINGUAY
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Friday, November 3, 2017
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BACOLOD City – Did the accusation that he stole a classmate’s iPad drive a 15-year-old student from Bago City, Negros Occidental to kill himself? His family wants to know.
The mother of Eric Hain Demafeliz sought help from Task Force Kasanag, a civil society organization supportive of the Duterte administration’s campaign against illegal drugs and other crimes.
The task force – through national commander John Chiong – in turn asked the Bago City police station, Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to look into the case.
According to the mother, Warlina, they could not find any reason for Demafeliz to commit suicide as far their family was concerned, Chiong said.
His older brother found Demafeliz, a second-year student of Ramon Torres National High School, dead in their house on Oct. 9. Chiong said the student committed suicide by hanging.
The family went to Demafeliz’s adviser to ask if her son had any problem in school.
They learned that Demafeliz was accused of theft, Chiong said.
The student was taken to the Bago City police station to have his alleged offense – stealing an iPad from a classmate – recorded on the blotter. A teacher and the classmate brought Demafeliz there, Chiong said.
But the offense was not recorded with the Women and Children Protection Desk.
Demafeliz went back home but the teacher and the classmate sought the police’s help to entrap Eric, Chiong said.
Demafeliz did not show up, rendering the supposed entrapment a failure. He was later found dead, Chiong said.
Chiong wrote CHR-Bacolod City chief Dante Baldevarona, Bago City Schools Division Superintendent Ma. Lorlinie Ortillo and Bago police head Chief Inspector Goeffer Cabural, asking them to investigate.
Demafeliz did not get the due process that should have been afforded him as a minor, Chiong said.
There was negligence on the part of the teacher, Chiong said.
A student who committed any offense in school should not be taken directly to the police station but referred to the guidance counselor or principal first, he said./PN
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