DAVAO CITY , Philippines — The Department of Education in Compostela Valley has mourned and extended its condolences to the bereaved family of the 55-year old Fe E. Concepcion, a public elementary school teacher who committed suicide inside her classroom last November 7.
“The DepEd Comval family mourns on the death of one of our beloved teachers, Mrs. Fe E. Concepcion. We are saddened of losing her within the school premises,” Rey Solitario, officer-in-charge of DepEd ComVal Division said in a statement on Friday.
Concepcion, a widow, was a public school teacher handling Grade 2 class in Pindasan Elementary School at Pindasan Village, Mabini town, Compostela Valley.
She was found hanging inside the comfort room of her classroom at 2:30 pm on Wednesday when her colleague, Elina Abuyog and the school’s watchman Alfredo Cosmiano checked on her at the classroom. Her pupils were still outside the classrooms, according Police Senior Inspector Churchill Angog Jr who investigated the incident.
Authorities rushed Concepcion’s body to Davao Regional Medical Center in Tagum City for medical treatment but she was declared “dead on arrival” by the attending physician of the hospital.
“The SDO Comval is urging all personnel for any voluntary assistance for the bereaved family and of course prayers for her eternal rest,” he said.
He added that Grade 2 pupils under Ms. Concepcion will be debriefed by DepEd nurses as part of the standing operating procedure of the education department.
Solitario said an investigation found the teacher was saddled with problems that pushed her to the limit.
Solitario said Concepcion was hospitalized last October due to hypertension and high level of sugar count, citing the account from Gina Sevillano, the victim’s school principal.
Concepcion returned to work last October 29 but she appeared “hopeless, stressed, and useless,” because of the financial and health problems, Solitario said.
“Her school principal, and her colleagues have tried their best to help her. When her school community learned her situation, Ms. Sevillano and Ma’am Concepcion’s co-teachers were giving her advices so that she will not be burdened with her problems,” Solitario said.
In fact, the school has unloaded some of her tasks in the upcoming Red Orchid Evaluation upon learning her condition, he added. “We find it fitting to do so given her condition,” Solitario said.
Concepcion’s wake is at St. Theresa Funeral Home, Del Pilar, Mabini but come Sunday, November 11, her body will be brought by her family to Maguindanao.(davaotoday.com)
