Child abuse raps filed vs Estancia teacher

By Florence F. Hibionada

A teacher of the Estancia National High School has been charged of child abuse by the Estancia police. With P120,000 bond posted though, teacher-respondent Maria Nerissa Santillana-Gallardo enjoys her provisional liberty while stripped of her advisory position in said school.

The teacher's legal woes stemmed from the recent slapping incident that involved a 15 year-old student. School authorities were immediately alerted of the complaint as the minor victim's family pursued the charges.

Gallardo was reported to have been in detention at the Estancia jail for about a week following her arrest by the Estancia police.

In a phone interview, SPO4 Eduardo Pancho confirmed to The News Today that violation of RA 7610 otherwise known as the Anti-child abuse law was lodged against the teacher. This, as town sources validated longtime similar complaints with Gallardo as the alleged ‘repeat offender.'

In a report, Bombo Radyo quoted Evelyn Capanas, Head teacher of the Estancia National High School English Department as having confirmed the violent history of respondent-teacher.

Since last year, the report went, complaints were made to school authorities that had Gallardo stripped of her advisory class. And students would usually shy away from her due to her inability to teach well and be understood by her class. Further still, it was common knowledge within the school community how Gallardo reportedly failed to control her assigned section and was an alleged habitual absentee-teacher.

Another confirmation as reported by same radio station, came from Louie Villanueva, officer-in-charge relative to previous year's adverse reports against said teacher.