27 students fall ill after Capiz school brawl

By Jennifer P. Rendon

ILOILO CITY — Twenty-seven students, mostly girls, fell ill after witnessing a fistfight between two fellow students on the campus of Jamindan National High School in Jamindan, Capiz, on the morning of Aug. 4.

Police Maj. Jaypee Silvestre, Jamindan police chief, said most of the students lost consciousness, while others felt unwell and could not walk after the incident.

“Most of them said they fall ill because of fear,” he said.

The students were taken to the town’s Rural Health Unit for treatment.

Silvestre said all the students were physically stable and later sent home.

Classes were suspended Tuesday because of the incident.

Reports said a 14-year-old Grade 8 student and a 16-year-old Grade 9 student traded punches on the school grounds at about 9:40 a.m.

Silvestre said it was unclear what triggered the fight.

The two students were seen preparing to fight before exchanging punches.

Teachers immediately broke up the fight.

Police officers conducting a stationary patrol near the campus responded and brought the two students to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office.

Silvestre said a knife was recovered from the 16-year-old boy.

However, he noted that the boy did not use it during the fight.

Silvestre said the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office would conduct the necessary intervention for the minors involved.