A school in Marikina City has suspended its classes on Monday following the death of a Grade 11 student during a basketball game at the school’s intramurals.
In a statement, the management of the Our Lady of Perpetual Succor College (OLOPSC) said that the school as temporary halted its operations as a sign of respect to the family of the student identified as Shann Mikhail Estaquio.
Reports said that the student collapsed 22 February during the school’s mini-Olympics and was pronounced dead at a hospital at 11:06 a.m. The school expressed condolences and pledged financial and emotional support to the family, along with grief counseling for students and staff.
“Despite the urgent response from our experienced emergency medical responders prior to the arrival of the ambulance, unfortunately Shann expired at the hospital at around 11:06 a.m.,” the statement read.
The death sparked online outrage, with many alleging medical negligence and questioning the school’s emergency preparedness, particularly the absence of an on-site ambulance.
“There should really be an ambulance in front of the school!!! especially since this is a rigid school activity,” one commenter wrote.
An alumnus with children currently enrolled at the school demanded accountability, asking, “What are the actual steps do you plan to propose or implement to ensure nothing like this ever happens again?”
Parents also raised concerns about student safety.
“The safety of all students are now in question,” one parent wrote. “I hope you have a concrete answer for this in the near future, if not, I am sure we are not the only parents that would fear for our kids and might not come back. You need to be better at addressing this please.”
Critics also accused the school of dishonesty in its official statement, with some saying the description of an “urgent response” contradicted witness accounts.
Meantime, the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines called for an investigation and demanded reforms to improve medical preparedness in schools.