BAYAMBANG, Pangasinan - A public school teacher is in hot water after he locked up 12 pupils inside a classroom for two hours last September 8.

The parents of the Grade VI pupils of the Bayambang Central School all trooped to the police to complain agaisnt the teacher, Von Ryan Cayabyab, for illegally detaining their children.

Cayabyab is now facing a complaint for illegal detention and violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Child Abuse Law before the city prosecutor office in San Carlos City, filed by parents of the pupils.

The pupils were identified as Maika Mae Buttong, Ana Marie Reyes, Rollie Coincina, Glen Basada, Nikki Isabelle Buizon, Benjie Bulatao, Ramil Eslabra, Solfrino Ignas, George Tucker Gonzales and three others.

The parents of the pupils told the police that they were constrained to file the complaint because they can not let the injustice committed by the teacher agaisnt their children to pass.

The pupils were locked inside the room from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and only got out when they called a passing teacher to open the door which was locked from the outside.

The pupils said they had no class beginnig at 8:00 a.m. but Cayabyab, who was not their teacher, put them into a room and locked it, with no chance for them to get out to take their snacks or to answer the call of nature. (PNA)