MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police is waiting for the administration of the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Junior High School to coordinate with them regarding the bullying incident caught on video.
PNP Deputy Spokesperson Supt. Kimberly Molitas said in a briefing on Friday that police cannot immediately intervene with such incidents because R.A. 10627 or the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 states that law enforcement agencies can only meddle if the school asks them for assistance.
“Meron tayong batas, ‘yong Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 that defines the procedure on how we go about bullying. Nakasaad doon na unang magte-take action ay ‘yong ating school administrators muna, and then it is upon determination of the case or the incident, it is their job to inform the law enforcement body,” Molitas told reporters.
“We have to allow the independence of the school administration to do the process or do the initial investigation. Ang sa atin lang, mas maganda siguro na mas mabilis ma-aksyunan, mas maganda para makita natin kung ano ba talaga ‘yong nangyari althought there’s a video that has been circulating around,” she added.
Molitas said that PNP hopes to extend assistance, especially since the parties involved are both minors.
“We do hope that there will be coordination at the soonest possible time, para makita po natin kung ano ‘yong pwede nating maitulong. We have to remember these are children, at gusto natin na hindi na maulit pa or mabigyan ng tamang intervention ‘yong incident na ‘yon,” she added.
“So inaantay po natin ‘yong school administration ng Ateneo na siguro i-inform or mag-coordinate sa ating kapulisan if they find it necessary for the intervention of law enforcers don sa case na ‘yon,” Molitas said.
In a video that went viral on social media sites, a junior high school student was seen taunting another student inside the male comfort room, asking him if he prefers to lose his dignity or be a victim of mauling.
Afterwards, the smaller student, who reportedly holds a black belt in taekwondo, started kicking and punching his victim, even if he was already bleeding.
ADMU’s administration vowed to expel the student if proven that the student involved is guilty of grave misconduct.
READ: Ateneo probes bullying incident in junior high school
For PNP’s part, they encourage children who have been victims of bullying to report such incidents to their school officials, so that law enforcement agencies can act and provide assistance.
“We of course encourage families of victims or children na wag matakot to report kung nabubully sila, sa kanilang mga school administrator, para maaksyunan at mabigyan sila ng kaukulang tulong,” Molitas said. /je
READ: Ateneo vows to kick out student if found guilty of bullying