Ateneo officials meet with parties involved in bullying incident

MANILA, Philippines — Officials of the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) have met with both parties involved in the viral video of a bullying incident concerning two Ateneo Junior High School students.

This was the update given by ADMU President Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin SJ  Friday night, referring to the victim and the bully student.

“The Ateneo Junior High School Committee on Discipline has already met with and heard both parties involved,” Villarin said in a statement,

“The case shall be decided soonest, and this decision shared with the community,” he added.

According to Villarin, the meeting with both parties involved was part of the ongoing “administrative investigation” regarding the case.

Several videos making rounds on social media show some ADMU Junior High School students verbally and physically attacking other students.

“Bugbog o dignidad? (Assault or dignity?),” a student asks another student in the video, prodding the victim to choose.

The victim chose not to lose his dignity and almost immediately thereafter, the student can be seen assaulting the victim.

In an earlier statement, Villarin said that the university would not hesitate to expel or dismiss students who be found guilty of grave misconduct.

“The school is not silent on its stand on violence and it will not hesitate to impose the penalty of dismissal or even expulsion in cases of grave misconduct,” he said.

“A hallmark of Ateneo education is teaching our young men to respect the dignity of others, to practice the value of communication and dialogue, and to cultivate the compassion and discipline we all need to build mutual respect and peace in the community,” he added. /je

READ: Ateneo vows to kick out student if found guilty of bullying