Two Grade 9 students in custody after caught bullying fellow student in viral video

Two Grade 9 students of the Basilan National High School are now in the custody of the City Social Welfare and Development Office, after they were caught beating up a fellow student in a viral video.

Video footage circulating online shows the two ninth-grade students punching, elbowing, and kicking a 15-year-old tenth-grade student inside school premises in Isabela City, Basilan on June 25, 2025.  The incident was reported to the Isabela City Police Station on June 30, 2025.

According to Police Regional Office 9 Police Major Shellamie Chang, the two Grade 9 students were reportedly forcing the victim to do something against his will.

“Pinipilit siyang manigarilyo or something, basta may pinapagawa sa kaniya na ayaw niyang gawin,” she said in a report by Marisol Abdurahman on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

(He was being forced to smoke or something, he was being forced to do something that he did not want to do.)

Chang said the two students will face charges of violating the Anti-Bullying Act, but will be handled in accordance with the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act considering that they are still minors, and will be considered as children in conflict with the law.

A separate statement released by the Philippine National Police (PNP) indicated the two students had previous behavioral issues, and had not returned home following the incident. A formal complaint was filed last Friday, July 4.

The statement said that the victim’s father reported that his son was punched, kicked, and had his head slammed against the wall, with one of the ninth-grade students pulling out a knife threatening to stab the victim.

“The safety of our children will always be a priority for the Philippine National Police. We will never tolerate any form of abuse or violence, especially in schools—places that should be safe for every student,” PNP chief Police General Nicolas Torre III said in a statement.

“Bullying isn’t just a school issue; it concerns all of us. We thank the concerned citizen who shared the video, which helped us act quickly. The PNP stands firm in its commitment to intervene, protect, and educate—so that no child suffers in silence,” he added.

For his part, Basilan National High School principal Arnel Hajan said the incident may have just been for laughs: “Katuwaan, kursonadahan, trip? Parang ganoon. (For fun, he was targeted, or a trip? Seems like it.)”

Hajan said the victim, who experienced dizziness and vomiting, was initially brought to a local hospital to be treated, before being transferred to a facility in Zamboanga City.

“Pinadala po natin sa local hospital then after, trinansfer namin sa Zamboanga City para mabigyan ng magandang gamot at medical attention,” he said in the same report.

(We brought him to a local hospital then after, he was transferred to Zamboanga City to be given good medicine and medical attention.)

Authorities said they have since heightened police visibility both inside and outside the campus, and have activated the CCTVs in the area.

GMA Integrated News is still trying to reach out to the Department of Education (DepEd) and the two ninth-grade students regarding the matter. —Jon Viktor Cabuenas/RF/BM, GMA Integrated News