They shamed my son –Demafeliz 

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The mother of Ramon Torres National High School (RTNHS) Grade 8 student Eric Hain Demafeliz, who recently killed himself, hit back at school staff who, through their lawyer, claimed the student voluntarily visited the Bago City Police Station with regards to an allegedly stolen tablet.

The student’s mother, Warlina Demafeliz, is seeking justice, claiming her son was “shamed” by both school staff and fellow students, publicly accusing him of stealing a tablet during a flag ceremony.

She noted, Department of Education (DepEd) Division of Bago City officials visited her son’s wake, however, they did not take any action in trying to resolve the case surrounding the student’s suicide.

Demafeliz added, she was unable to speak with her son about the shaming incident before he was found dead.

Earlier this week, legal counsel for the DepEd Division of Bago, Atty. Rex Cabarles, denied  school staff brought Demafeliz to the Bago City Police Station following accusations of thievery.

Cabarles explained, a picture of the stolen tablet was shown for sale on a social media account run by the student and they went to police in order to organize an entrapment operation against him.

Following the student’s death, Task Force Kasanag (TFK) national commander John Chiong questioned RTNHS staff over the handling of the case, saying school staff should have contacted the student’s parents before involving the police.

He also stated it is illegal for police to conduct an entrapment operation against Demafeliz since he is still a minor.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Negros Occidental has already initiated an investigation over the incident./DGB, WDJ