A Grade 5 student died days after he was reportedly slapped by his teacher on the ear as a form of punishment in Antipolo City.

The victim, identified as Francis Jay Gumikib, a 14-year old student of Peńafrancia Elementary School, died on Oct. 2 after he lapsed into a coma at a hospital a few days after the slapping incident.

Police said the victim’s mother claimed that a classmate of his son said their female Filipino teacher reportedly pulled his hair before slapping him on his ear when the classmates of the victim were very unruly on Sept. 20.

Elena Minggoy, the student’s mother, in an interview with some reporters, appealed to Vice President Sarah Duterte, who is currently the Department of Education (DepEd) secretary to look into the matter.

Lt. Col. Ryan Manongdo, chief of the Antipolo Police, told the Manila Bulletin that the investigators were awaiting the result of the autopsy conducted by the Crime Laboratory on the victim as of 11 a.m. on Oct. 3.

“Upon the release of the autopsy report, we will determine if we could pursue the filing of the complaint of homicide in relation to Republic Act 7610 against the teacher,” the chief of police said.

Manongdo said the teacher, when interviewed by police investigators a few hours after the victim’s death, denied slapping her student and claimed that she only tapped his face.

Police said at least two of the classmates of the fatality who claimed to have witnessed the slapping incident on September 20, were willing to give their statements to the police.

Officials of the Deped’s Schools Division in Antipolo City  went to the school Tuesday morning to conduct an initial investigation on the incident.

The victim was rushed to the hospital on Sept. 26 after he complained of severe pain on his ear and face.  He went into a coma during his confinement and died at around 10 a.m. on Oct. 2.