DOJ-led workshop: Bullying victims need not suffer in silence

MANILA, Philippines — Bullied children should not try to seek retribution from their tormentors by themselves but should seek the assistance of persons in authority or other responsible adults.

This was underscored by Justice Undersecretary Ian Norman Dato in the recent Anti-Bullying Information Workshop at Bagong Tanyag Integrated School (BTIS) in Taguig City.

The workshop was organized after several shooting incidents in schools that resulted in deaths and injuries of students. Bullying and school violence are becoming very serious problems that the House of Representatives has passed a bill declaring September as National Bullying Awareness Month.

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One suspect reportedly claimed his action was in retaliation for the bullying he was getting in school.

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“Do not try to fight back [when bullied],” Dato said. “Trust in the process.” He assured his audience consisting primarily of Grades 7 and 9 students and their parents that both the Departments of Education and Justice had people and strategies to address the growing problem of bullying and school violence.

READ: Bullying goes beyond school grounds, child rights advocates say

Proactive campaign

Schools have teachers, guidance counselors and other experts to assist victims while DOJ prosecutors help when the offense violates laws. Free legal assistance is also available.

Dato added that parents should actively participate in the campaign against bullying. They should be proactive, monitoring their children for signs of bullying, rather than re-active—acting only after serious harm had occurred.

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BTIS principal Donnabel Balantac said parents had to know the signs of bullying and help their children deal with the problem.

The justice official stressed that, under the law, bullying committed within a two-kilometer radius of a school was still considered an offense that the school could and should act on.

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Republic Act 10627, the Anti-Bullying Act, was signed into law in 2013.

Role of bystanders

Dato said bullying could be physical, psychological and/or emotional, verbal, cyber, social (ostracizing the victim) or gender-based.

Bullying was also not just a matter between the victim and the bully. It also involved bystanders who witnessed or had personal knowledge of the incident and upstander or those who would try to protect or support the bullied.

Balantac stressed that bullying should never be tolerated. Respect for one another, she added, was needed to create a safer environment for children.

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“Hindi ka nag-iisa (You are not alone),” Dato reassured bullying victims. /cb