DepEd teacher takes a stand for children’s rights
by Janelle Ladiero-Bermido
It’s been a month since I testified in court for the first time and I still remember the mix of nerves and determination I felt on March 3, 2025. Despite my smiles, I was super nervous inside. It was my first time to take the witness stand in a legal proceeding, for direct and cross examination.
It took five months from the day I received from one of my students a report of sexual abuse to the day I testified in court.
It all began with a film viewing of “Daughter” in our Values Education class. The movie tells the story of a teenage girl who had to care for her younger siblings because their mother had to work abroad. She was raped by her own father and was unable to ask for help from other adults due to so many reasons. One day, she was shocked to learn that her younger sister was abused by the father, too. Only then did she have the courage to ask for help.
As a supplemental activity to our topic “Karapatan at Tungkulin,” I had my students answer questions about the film. One student, “Rosa” (not her real name), now 14 years old, personally handed me her answer sheet, revealing that she, too, was abused by her uncle.
I immediately called “Rosa” to the Guidance Office and had her make a statement about her experience. Rosa said her uncle first “touched” her when she was only seven years old. It was repeated at the height of the pandemic when she was already 10 years old. There was no school and she had no one to play with except her cousin who lives across the street. She frequently went to her cousin’s place to play with her. However, one time, when she was left alone, her uncle took the opportunity to sexually abuse her again. It happened many times thereafter to the point that she lost count already but Rosa did not forget how it made her feel. She did not understand what was happening. She wanted to tell someone what happened to her, but she didn’t know who to tell or who could understand her. When she was in 7th grade, she started harming herself. Her parents had no idea what she was going through.
She begged me not to tell her mother, citing her mother’s heart condition. Given the lack of interaction between “Rosa” and the perpetrator, I decided to delay informing her parents.
I informed Rosa’s adviser about what she disclosed and asked for help in contacting Rosa’s parents after a week. I invited her parents to the Guidance Office and had them read Rosa’s written statement. I then referred them to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office where a registered social worker was waiting to interview them to determine the proper intervention for Rosa and the family.
A few days later, I learned that Rosa, finally, was able to tell her whole story and with the assistance of the social worker, police and her parents, brought a criminal complaint against her uncle in the Office of the Prosecutor. The prosecutor conducted a preliminary investigation, and then a few weeks after that, issued a Resolution favoring Rosa and elevating the case to the Family Court. Her uncle was immediately arrested but he paid bail and is currently out on temporary liberty.
In February 2025, Rosa testified in court and recounted her harrowing experience once again. She survived the grilling by the defense lawyer. She found hope and courage in the people who believed her and in other children she met in the Preda Home for Girls who were also abused and empowered to bring their abusers to justice.
Then, I was informed by the social worker that I was next to testify as I was the first person to whom Rosa disclosed her ordeal. When I received the subpoena from the court, I felt I was “on pins and needles.” The subpoena read in part:
“You are hereby commanded to be at and to appear before this Court on March 3, 2025 at 8:30am, then and there to testify in the above- entitled case. FAIL NOT UNDER THE PENALTY OF LAW.”
So, without fail, I gave my statement to the police and swore to its truthfulness and veracity in the Office of the Prosecutor.
I successfully finished my testimony in court.
As a teacher and guidance designate, it’s my responsibility to help students who report abuse. In the story of “Daughter,” the abused girl wanted to tell other adults about the abuse but was dismissed or ignored. It was her teacher that gave her a lifeline by giving her a contact number for help. May all teachers be that lifeline for all students in need of help.
Mga ka-guro, as educators, we play a vital role in creating a safe and supportive environment for our students. By being proactive and non-judgmental, we can help students feel confident in sharing their concerns and seeking help when needed.
Let’s continue to be advocates for our students’ well-being and safety!
