Around GMA

Article Inside Page

Actor and Quezon City Councilor Alfred Vargas is taking a firm stand against school violence following a heartbreaking incident involving a person with disability (PWD) student in the city.

In a recent privilege speech, the public servant expressed his deep concern over the rising cases of bullying in both public and private educational institutions. The urgency of his call comes on the heels of a tragic report where a PWD student allegedly took their own life by jumping from the fourth floor of a school building after being subjected to bullying and physical abuse.

A Call for Reform

The Unica Hija actor is pushing for immediate amendments to Quezon City's existing anti-bullying ordinance to ensure it has more "teeth" in protecting vulnerable students.

“Nananawagan po ako sa ating lahat na maging mas mapagmalasakit sa ating kapwa. Spread kindness. Maging mapagmatyag at maagap sa pagre-report ng mga insidente,” Vargas stated.

The actor-politician emphasized that no parent should ever have to endure the grief of losing a child to such avoidable circumstances. “Wala pong pamilya ang dapat makaranas ng ganitong pighati dahil sa bullying,” he added.

City Council Action

The Quezon City Council has responded to Vargas's plea by launching a formal investigation into the specific incident. The council aims to identify gaps in the current system and strengthen the provisions of the local anti-bullying laws to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Aside from his legislative work, Vargas continues to use his platform to promote his "Spread Kindness" advocacy, urging the community to be more vigilant and proactive in reporting bullying within their neighborhoods.

For more updates on this story and the latest in showbiz, stay tuned to GMANetwork.com.

RELATED CONTENT: Alfred Vargas talks about the strong women in his life