Can a school admin be blamed for the death of a student in the campus?

Can a school admin be blamed for the death of a student in the campus?

Jonas Paolo Ferrer, an Electrical Engineering student from the Technological Institute of the Philippines – Quezon City, died late last week on campus following a heart attack. His sister Joydee made a post on Facebook essentially blaming the school administration for her brother’s death, saying that he could have been saved had proper medical procedures been done promptly.

Many students voiced out their frustrations through that popular thread in TIP MEME, sometimes using foul language. Before anything else, it must be asked: How much responsibility does a school administration have when a student dies inside its premises?

A lot of students just shrug when teachers say time and again that they are their parents whenever they’re in school. The fact is, that has a legal basis because of the concept of “in loco parentis(“in the place of parents” in English). Briefly stated, the teachers and even the school administration assumes certain responsibilities over the students if they are in the campus.

Jonas Paolo Ferrer
Jonas Paolo Ferrer (middle), an electrical engineering student from TIP Quezon City, suffered a fatal heart attack in campus last week

In a 1988 decision in Amadora vs. Court of Appeals, the Philippine Supreme Court elucidated a liberal interpretation of this concept:

“As long as it can be shown that the student is in the school premises in pursuance of a legitimate student objective, in the exercise of a legitimate student right, and even in the enjoyment of a legitimate student right, and even in the enjoyment of a legitimate student privilege, the responsibility of the school authorities over the student continues.”

Now, let’s go back to the death of Jonas Paolo Ferrer. Here are my thoughts:

1) The student died because of a lingering medical condition. That makes it unfair to put too much blame on the school admin. You see, it’s not like he died because of a fraternity-related violence. Had that been the case, you can blame the school’s security for being too negligent.

2) While it’s right to say that schools should have a doctor or two on their clinic, expecting that they should have an ambulance as well is too much. That will only happen if the school is affiliated with a medical institution, like the University of Santo Tomas, Far Eastern University – Nicanor Reyes Memorial Foundation, and World Citi Colleges (WCC).

3) Nevertheless, Ferrer’s death should serve as a reminder to the school administration of the need to revise its system if a similar scenario happens again in the future. For example, TIP QC should have an agreement with WCC or the East Avenue Medical Center, the two nearest hospitals, about fetching patients from the campus who are in emergency cases.

“Like” The Filipino Scribe on Facebook!

About Author

Comments

comments

Mark Pere Madrona

The Filipino Scribe (TFS) is managed by Mark Pere Madrona, a multi-awarded writer and licensed professional teacher from the Philippines. Mr. Madrona earned his master’s degree in history from the University of the Philippines-Diliman last 2020. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in journalism cum laude from the same university back in 2010. His area of interests includes Philippine journalism, history, and politics as well as social media. Know more about him here: https://www.filipinoscribe.com/about/.

33 thoughts on “Can a school admin be blamed for the death of a student in the campus?

  1. I’ve waited for this post because I thought sasabihin mo yung talagang totoo. Pero ang bias kasi. Sounds unfair. Studyante mo ko noon at hinahangaan kita. Pero sa post na to, parang ang obvious naman na kasi. You didn’t mentioned yung sa pagiintay nila ng napakatagal na sasakyan ee may bus naman tayo or any sasakyan na sana handa palagi. Number two, you got it he died because of medical condition which is sana alam ng clinic. Na sana may record sila para alam nila. Na sana kada validation, may check up. We don’t actually blame the school but their actions. Kung sana lumugar ka sa kinakalagyan nila baka sakaling maintindihan mo po sir. Don’t just blog and blog and blog. Sana gumawa ka nadin ng interview sa side nung family since favulty ka naman so basically you are on TIP’s side right.

    1. Nagbasa ka ba talaga? Wala akong sinabing walang kasalanan ang school. At kung talagang naging estudyante kita dati, siguro nabasa mo yung original post ko sa isang group na alam kong hindi ikakatuwa ng TIP admin kung sakali man na may makakabasa sa kanila.

      I am not TIP’s side. Why should I be when I’m no longer connected with the school?

    2. This comment is way more stupid than the comment of “Juan Delacruz” up there. And if you really were Mark’s student, you wouldn’t be as stupid as this. It’s either you didn’t read the article or you never understood a thing.

    3. napatalsik lang kasi yan si madrona sa TIP dahil sa kaboboham nya. Kala mo dko alam mga issues mo nuon. Bobo mo dn kasi madrona e. Nakakahiya kang prof ng TIP. Bukod sa muka mo pati ugali mo.

  2. kalokohan meron malapit na hospital at bakit sa mayo hospital pa pinadala ung bata? buhay na ang naka taya SOP na yan..

  3. Alam mo tingin ko hindi kapa namamatayan! Sana hindi mangyari sa magiging anak/pamangkin/kapatid/kamag anak mo ang nangyari sa kapatid ko kasi I’m sure if same situation ang nangyari sa kapatid ko at sa magiging anak/kamag anak mo na nag aaral sa TIP baka mas worst pa ang mga pinagsasasabi mo sa TIP! At FYI! Wala akong sinabing kailangan ng TIP bumili/magkaroon ng ambulance what I’m trying to point out is sana tumawag sila ng ambulance hindi yung sinakay lang nila sa pick up truck yung kapatid ko at isinugod pa sa mas malayong hospital. Hindi mo naman alam ang buong istorya gagawa gawa kapa ng Blog as if alam mo naman lahat lahat at totoong ng nangyari.

  4. This blogger obviously did no do his due deligence re finding the thruth and the whole story before blogging. Even the picture is probably a screengrab and didnt ask permission before using it. Let me tell you what is unfair,
    its unfair that mr. Ferrer was brought to qmcc while wcc is just 5 minutes away from tip.
    Its unfair that tip staff brought mr ferrer to the hospital 30 minutes after his collapse
    Its unfair that you blog this incident without doing your due deligence.
    Its unfair that you are being iresposible blogger and was not thinking what mr. Ferrer family will feel if they read your blog.

  5. You know what sir napaka stupid mo kelan man? UP grad ka ba talaga? Napakabobo mo talaga kasi. Hindi ka marunong mag isip tangina ka !

  6. Sana alam mo yung pagkakamali mo. Sana makita mo din yung part na may mali ka. Sana lang sana talaga kasi kung di mo yun nakikita, kabawasan sayo yun. You don’t know how painful this blogpost for the family of Ferrer. Hindi mo alam kung gaano nasaktan yung mga nagmamahal kay Ferrer

  7. oh i see.. ganun pla ang nangyari, it’s either nagkaroon ng di maayos na komunikasyon sa staffs o wala lang talagang alam ang mga nagasikaso, sana naman maging leksyon ito sa school na dapat maging handa lalo na pag worst case scenario :3

  8. ano madrona ? daldal pa ! wala ka kwenta galing ka pa man din sa UP. Sana ikaw na lang namatay para may pinagkakapehan at pinagsosopasan na mga studyante ng TIP ngayon.

  9. natatawa naman ako kay juan delacruz XD naiintindihan ko naman na galit ka sa nangyari at sa blog na ito eh, pero di mo naman kailangan magsabi nang magsabi ng bobo at panay magmura, napapaghalataan ka na bugok eh haha yung mga katulad mo salot sa lipunan promise :3

  10. This blog doesn’t make sense at all. The problem is that, why didn’t the admins rush Ferrer to the nearest hospital like WCC? We all know the fact that the situation was inevitable. “The student died because of a lingering medical condition. That makes it unfair to put too much blame on the school admin.” Just what the hell were you thinking? It’s still the school’s fault for not prioritizing the safety of the student. His sister even said that there was no ambulance and doctor at that time. So my point is, who’s to blame? Need I say more?

  11. Ang dami naman pong pinagsasabi, Simple lang naman yung sagot e. Nasa loob siya ng TIP namatay, That means responsible ng TIP na gawin lahat para sa estudyante. Hindi naman accident sa labas or ewan. Ayun lang naman yung e, Sa loob siya ng campus namatay. That means it’s TIP’s FAULT. Okay?

  12. “That makes it unfair to put too much blame on the school admin. You see, it’s not like he died because of a fraternity-related violence. Had that been the case, you can blame the school’s security for being too negligent.”

    This shit.

  13. Putang ina mo MADRONA bobo ka fuck you sagad.. mamatay ka nang hinayupak kang prof kang GAGO kang ulol kang bakla ka! Tarantado ka pakantot ka na lang TSUPA ka ng TSUPA sa mga estudyante mo.. UP grad panay tsUPa inaatupag mong gago ka.. alam ko mga sikreto mo gago!

  14. May nkalagay sa student handbook na bnbgay sa kada freshmen n pagmay nangyari sa students ng TIP n within 100meters kargo ka ng skul per se, if that student was given the right kind of first aid (if you really do have a real medical staff) which obviously never happened. It could have made a bigger difference.
    All I’m saying and I know that a lot of us who went to that school knew that you people are all jokes and doesn’t even give a damn for your students #PuroAcreditationKahitDinadayaNaman

  15. “TIP”
    Tang Inang Paaralan
    Tang Inang Prof
    Tang Ina Politiko ka ba?

    Maybe you can’t stop a heart attack
    But atleast have with having proper medical staffs. Eto ba un binabayaran ng mga estudyante? Ung pag may ganito na imbis na mapasalamatan kayo eh pagtatakpan pa na kesyo walang koneksyon sa mga ospital? Pero kht un mga nsa bahay pwede tumawag ng ambulansya o “Talagang Doktor” para naman may “Talagang ggwa ng dapat sa mga ganitong medical situation”
    A life could have been spared. Yeah, as if all you can say is Blame it on the wheather.

    You’ve been entrusted with your students..
    You could have made a difference..But You Didn’t..

  16. “The student died because of a lingering medical condition. That makes it unfair to put too much blame on the school admin.”
    what the f is this? we are not blaming the school about the medical condition of Mr. ferrer point is that, the readiness of the school when it comes to this kind of situation. WCC is just a block away. if the school took the situation seriously enough, they could have found ways to bring the patient into the hospital. hence it took awhile before that happened. stand tall? that’s the school’s battle cry. how about being responsible? shame on the author of this article. talking bout history of pointless articles ever made, this goes light years in advance.

  17. Bakit andaming baklang proof sa TIP deputa pati ung proof ko dati bakla gusto lang tsumupa, tapos e IINC ka nya kc trip ka? Dafaq …salot sa lipunan mga malalanding bakla.. condelence sa family ni Ferrer.

  18. 3) Nevertheless, Ferrer’s death should serve as a reminder to the school administration of the need to revise its system if a similar scenario happens again in the future. For example, TIP QC should have an agreement with WCC or the East Avenue Medical Center, the two nearest hospitals, about fetching patients from the campus who are in emergency cases.

    Basahin niyo mabuti yung No. 3 Sa tingin niyo pro-TIP admin nagpost nito? Nakakalungkot lang at ang hina niyo sa reading comprehension.

    Minsan napapaisip ako kung di niyo natindihan o saydang tanga lang kayong mga bashers hehehe.

  19. The sad part is an innocent kid died in a helpless manner. It was in the institution’s premises, I don’t know bout you Madrona, but it’s clear that the school is responsible for it. Why’d do you have to make a blog bout it without gathering facts and evidences? Nagpapapansin ka ba? And by the way I was a prof too at TIPQC.

  20. Kung ayaw nyo sa TIP magsialis na lang kayo. Andaming satsat. Dyan lang naman kayo magaling, ang mansisi. Kung ayaw nyo sa sistema, sa mismong admin kayo lumapit hindi sa internet or social media. Ge. Pagpyestahan nyo comment ko. Masialis na kayo sa TIP. Mga salot!

  21. Putang ina mo MADRONA bobo ka fuck you sagad.. mamatay ka nang hinayupak kang prof kang GAGO kang ulol kang bakla ka! Tarantado ka pakantot ka na lang TSUPA ka ng TSUPA sa mga estudyante mo.. UP grad panay tsUPa inaatupag mong gago ka.. alam ko mga sikreto mo gago!

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.