Don’t bully the bully, senators ask netizens
MANILA, Philippines — Don’t bully the bully.
At least two senators made this appeal on Friday as netizens verbally attacked on social media a teenager who was caught on video bullying other high school students.
READ: Ateneo vows to kick out student if found guilty of bullying
“Galit tayo sa isang bully at dapat lang pero sa galit natin ‘binubully’ naman natin siya sa Facebook? So kung ganun ano ang pinagkaiba natin sa kanya?” Senator Francis Pangilinan wrote on Twitter.
“We should never, never become the monster we seek to defeat,” he added.
While condemning the incident, Senator Nancy Binay expressed dismay at how social media has been used by netizens to also bully the bully.
“We must condemn all forms of bullying. But what’s bothersome, though, is the vicious cycle of bullying,” Binay said in a statement.
“Bullying does not end by bullying the bully. It only worsens the culture of hate,” she added.
As a parent, Binay agreed that a strong message must be sent that bullying is “unacceptable and must not be condoned.”
“Nakakalungkot lang dahil ang social media has become infected by hatred,” she said. “Instead of being an instrument of healing, it has become a place of torment.”
She said bullying will continue to grow if the people would behave like bullies.
“Shaming the bully is not the solution. Let’s strive to heal even the tormentors, and work for a bully-free society,” Binay further said. /je
