Teachers cannot inflict corporeal punishment

One morning, the victim, a 14-year-old high-school student, was attending his class at the school basketball court where the accused, a public school teacher, was also conducting his Music, Arts, Physical Education and Health class for third year students. Along with some of his classmates, the victim joined the third year students who were practicing basketball shots. The accused then instructed his class to form two lines. The victim, thinking that three lines were to be formed, stayed in between the two lines. Without warning, the accused held his right arm and punched his stomach for failing to follow instructions. As a result, the victim sustained a contusion hematoma and was confined in the hospital for three days.

The victim filed an administrative complaint against the accused before the Civil Service Commission-Cordillera Administrative Region (CSC-CAR) and a criminal case before with the Regional Trial Court (RTC) for Less Serious Physical Injury.