(Eagle News) — The Department of Education (DepEd) prodded the Ateneo De Manila University to conduct the proper investigation and other actions regarding the various bullying incidents caught on videos that had gone viral involving one junior high school student.
DepEd said that it had already “written the principal” of Ateneo High School to let the school officials know that the bullying incidents had already reached the department.
For now, DepEd said that it would leave the school officials to investigate the matter but is willing to intervene if necessary.
“Our regional director has written the principal of the school stating na itong matter na ito ay nakaabot na sa aming kaalaman and we trust that they will handle this based on the standards of the child protection policy and that we be updated on the matter,” DepEd Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said.
DepEd also called on the public, especially students experiencing any kind of bullying inside the school premises, to report such incidents.
In 2016 and 2017, there were more than 22,000 incidents of bullying recorded by the department.
There were 3,000 bullying incidents in Metro Manila, which is the highest number of bullying incidents reported to the department.
Ateneo de Manila High School has released an official statement stating that they will address and treat the matter “with the highest priority and urgency.”
“Let me be very clear: the school does not condone such behavior. We have our codified standards of conduct and all students are made aware of these and their rights and responsibilities.”
“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,” Ateneo de Manila university president Fr Jose Ramon Villarin said.
