By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A teacher at JR Torres Elementary School, located in Bacolod City’s Barangay Singcang-Airport, was forced to resign after he was accused of molesting 18 boys.

Officials from the Department of Education (DepEd) have requested the 18 victims not be named, all of whom were Grade 5 students at the said school.

Based on the claims reported by the victims, their teacher, identified as Joselino Labtic, allegedly molested them by forcing them to kiss him on the lips or touch their private parts.

In a radio interview with RMN DYHB-Bacolod, one of the victims, who is now a Grade 6 student, said they weren’t able to tell to their parents or other teachers out of fear and embarrassment.

The Department of Education-Division of Bacolod City (DepEd-Bacolod) has since relieved Labtic from his post as of February 16, when the allegations initially surfaced.

The department stated they did not receive any official complaint from the students or their teachers regarding the allegations, although they have already called for a “motu proprio” investigation, which are conducted without a formal complaint submitted.

DepEd-Bacolod added, they were supposed to file an administrative case against Labtic, but he submitted his resignation last Monday and has not reported for work since./DGB, WDJ