Creates task force to conduct assessment of bullying situation on campus
(Eagle News)— Ateneo has dismissed its junior high school student who was seen bullying his schoolmate in the school’s bathroom.
Ateneo de Manila University president Ramon Villarin made the announcement in a statement on Sunday, Dec. 23.
According to Villarin, this means the boy is no longer allowed to come back to Ateneo.
“I have spoken to both parents of both students about this decision and have offered the families continued support to help them overcome this difficult time,” Villarin said.
According to Villarin, who acknowledged for the first time since the video went viral that there was bullying on campus, Ateneo is “continuing the investigation as there are other matters involved in the incident.”
While there “are already policies and processes codified in the student handbook, all in accord with current legislation,” Villarin said he has also created a task force to “conduct a comprehensive study of the current situation, ensure an independent measure of our present measures and systems, and promptly recommend to our administration how we can create a safer and bully-free environment.”
He said such a task force will also ensure that the policies and processes codified in the student handbook as well as the values they promote are “internalized by all members of the community.”
“Such an environment shall prevent a culture of silence from harming our students, and encouraging everyone to speak up against bullying and other forms of misconduct without fear of retaliation or censure. Such an environment will empower our students to become the Ateneans we all desire them to be for others,” Villarin said.
Villarin acknowledged that the incident has inflicted “widespread and profound pain” not only “on the persons involved and their families, but on each member of our community as well.”
According to Villarin, “we have the power to amplify the pain by simply fanning the flames of hatred and violence, by fighting fire with fire,” but added that we also have the power to “summon the courage to stop fighting one another.”
“We can begin by refusing to add fuel to the fire and helping our children and one another heal,” he said.
The dismissed student who figured in the viral video was seen asking another student to choose between “bugbog o dignidad.”
Hearing no answer, the bully then proceeded to physically assault his schoolmate, who did not fight back.
The same boy figured in at least three other videos where he was seen physically and verbally assaulting other schoolmates.
