School officials, parents may be made to answer for Ateneo high school ‘bully’ —PNP

School officials and the parents of the Ateneo high school student who figured in the viral bullying videos could be made to answer for his actions, the Philippine National Police has said.

According to Tina Panganiban-Perez's report on "24 Oras", the student may not be held criminally responsible for punching and kicking at least two fellow students and physically threatening another because he is a minor.

"Hindi nangyari 'yun na ganun-ganun lang. Maaaring meron siyang experiences na pinagdadaanan kaya ganoon siya," said Senior Superintendent Gemma Vinluan of the PNP Women and Children's Protection Center.

The Ateneo administration in a statement said that it was already looking into the incident. It confirmed that the student was from the institution.

It appealed to the public to stop the video from further spreading for the privacy of the minors involved.

The Department of Education's Director of Legal Services has already seen the video and states that that was not the first time the student is caught in a video beating and humiliating his schoolmates.

"May galit at saka lungkot, kasi siguro galit kasi bakit kailangan pa it happened three times? Siguro nung once, may nakapag-report na, at kung na-ireport, may nagawa ba ang school?," said Attorney Suzette Medina, director of DepEd legal services said.

The DepEd is now monitoring Ateneo's action as regards the incidents.

The DepEd won't intervene since Ateneo is a private school.

However, the agency said the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 required private schools to have anti-bullying policies.

"Dapat ang provisions po ay may preventive measures, may disciplinary measures, may members ng committee," Medina said. —NB, GMA News