Updated @ 11:14 p.m., Dec. 24, 2018
A Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) investigative panel has recommended that the Ateneo Junior High School student caught on video bullying another student be indefinitely banned from all competitions.
The erring student, a taekwondo practitioner, has been kicked out of Ateneo de Manila University.
In a statement issued on Monday, PTA president Robert Aventajado said the ban would cover not only sanctioned events and belt promotions, but also use of member groups’ training facilities.
Counseling
Aventajado said the student had also been recommended to undergo counseling.
“The aim for this is to allow the individual to own responsibility for his actions, show remorse and contribute positively to society,” he said.
“Should he or his family decline this option, the PTA will have no choice but to expel the practitioner from
the association. Supervised counseling and rehabilitation are conditions for reinstatement,” he added.
The group, Aventajado said, would evaluate the student’s compliance after the rehabilitation program and would put him on probation for at least one year.
He also urged the public to “be mindful of their comments particularly on social media, bearing in mind that the subjects are minors.”
“We truly believe that the best way to move forward from this incident is to provide the child with the necessary guidance and mentorship, and an opportunity to exhibit remorse and provide restitution to the community in general,” he said.
Public outrage
The student was caught on video using his taekwondo skills on another student in the comfort room of the school last week.
The video went viral, drawing public outrage and calls for the enforcement of the antibullying law in all schools in the country.
Sen. Grace Poe has called for revisions to the law that would strengthen it, including quick school administration response to incidents.