The family of an eight-year-old girl who died days after she was allegedly struck on the head with a notebook during an altercation inside a public school in Davao City, Philippines has decided not to have her body undergo an autopsy.
The child’s mother said the family is not placing blame on anyone over the incident, stressing that those involved are still young children.
“For now, ma’am, I still cannot say because I am not blaming anyone. They are still children. I am not blaming anybody, no one,” the mother said.
Initial police investigation showed that the victim was allegedly hit several times on the head with a notebook by a male classmate inside the school on July 17, 2026.
Authorities are also verifying reports that the child may have been kicked, punched, and elbowed during the incident.
Following the alleged assault, the girl was first brought to a traditional healer before she was taken to a hospital on July 21. She later died while receiving treatment.
Medical findings indicated that the child died from brain failure and traumatic brain injury.
Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Director Col. Peter Madria said investigators have been directed to conduct a thorough probe to establish the circumstances surrounding the student’s death and determine who may be held responsible.
“Our instruction to the station commander is to conduct an in-depth investigation to determine the root cause of this student’s death and identify the person responsible before this incident occurred,” Madria said.
Meanwhile, the school principal personally visited the victim’s family at their home on Samal Island, Davao del Norte, where the child’s wake is being held, and handed over letters written by her classmates.
The grieving mother broke into tears as she read the messages.
“To Jaira’s classmates, thank you for loving Jaira. I still cannot accept that you will never see Jaira again and that she will never return to school. Thank you for your messages for Jaira,” the mother said.
The school principal also extended condolences to the family and provided assistance during the visit.
School principal Friendee Nunez said the school plans to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in every classroom, although funding for the project has yet to be secured.
“The school plans to install CCTV cameras in every classroom. We already have CCTV cameras around the campus so that if something happens, it can immediately be seen and reviewed. If there are CCTV cameras inside the classrooms, the children will know they are being monitored and may be more careful because they know their actions can be seen,” Nunez said.
As the family continues to mourn, the parents remember their daughter as a child who dreamed of becoming a teacher someday.
“She dreamed of going viral on TikTok, but she became viral in a different way. She is gone now. She has already passed away,” the mother said.
