Cebu university instructor sacked for encouraging suicide

MANILA, Philippines — An instructor at the University of Cebu (UC) has been fired for encouraging his students to harm themselves, including committing suicide.

In a statement posted on Facebook on Monday, UC chancellor Candice Gotianuy said the instructor is ”no longer connected” with the university.

The mother of the instructor, who also taught at the university “has followed suit,” Gotianuy said.

She said the faculty of the university” is in full agreement” that the actions of the instructor are” absolutely unacceptable.”

Gotianuy said concerned students would have no classes for one week for counseling.

Thirty psychiatrists, psychologists and guidance counselors will be deployed at the university.

“By suspending classes, we are giving students time and space to heal. By letting him go and asking students to see a counselor, we are rebuilding a safe place,” Gotianuy said.

“The legal team will reach out to the individuals concerned to document their experience,” she added. ”We are putting this incident on record.”

The instructor was heard in an audio recording uploaded on Tiktok and posted on Facebook as telling his students that he would be pleased if his students would harm themselves and “love it should you commit suicide.”

“I will still laugh,” he added. — The Freeman