That viral video of an Ateneo Junior High School student bullying a schoolmate has reached Malacañang and the presidential palace wants it investigated.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a press briefing today that he was bothered by the video and wants to find out what may have started the fight.
“I watched that. I was bothered by what I saw. I think they should investigate why there was such a one-sided fight given the fact that the one who mauled was much smaller,” Panelo said, as quoted by ABS-CBN News.
“As I said, something might have triggered [the bully] because they say the child should undergo a psychiatric exam. It should really be investigated. The school should investigate and do something about it.”
Ateneo Junior High School Principal Jose Antonio P. Salvador said in a statement yesterday that they have started an investigation on the matter, but many are still calling the school out for the incident.
In the video, one of their students can be seen provoking a fellow student to fight him inside a restroom before proceeding to beat him up.
The Department of Education said that they are letting Ateneo, a private school, do its own investigation but that they may intervene if needed, GMA News reported.
Apart from Panelo, other government officials have also spoken out about the video.
“No to bullying. Parents shouldn’t tolerate their kids who bully other kids,” Senator JV Ejercito tweeted.
No to bullying. Parents shouldn’t tolerate their kids who bully other kids.
— JV Ejercito (@jvejercito) December 20, 2018
Senator Sonny Angara said: “Just a reminder to schools to strictly enforce their AntiBullying policies required under the AntiBullying Law. Disturbing videos going viral now.”
Just a reminder to schools to strictly enforce their AntiBullying policies required under the AntiBullying Law. Disturbing videos going viral now. #NoToBullying
— Sonny Angara (@sonnyangara) December 20, 2018
Senator Kiko Pangilinan, meanwhile, warned netizens not to resort to cyberbullying.
“We are angry at a bully, as we should be, but because of our anger, we are also ‘bullying’ him on Facebook? If that’s the case, how are we different from him? We should never, never become the monster we seek to defeat,” he said in English and Filipino.
https://www.facebook.com/officialkikopangilinan/photos/a.140330658199/10156995784158200/?type=3&theater
How should this bullying incident be handled? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us @CoconutsManila.
