DOJ to order all offices to accept bullying complaints

The Department of Justice (DOJ) will soon issue an order mandating its local prosecution offices or the DOJ Action Center to receive bullying complaints, Justice Undersecretary Ian Norman Dato said Thursday.

Dato said the order would give bullying victims additional avenues to seek assistance and pursue their complaints.

“Pwede po niya itong i-assess, pwede niyang i-mediate, pwede niyang i-refer to the school na meron naman pong primary jurisdiction over the incident, or the Women and Protection Desk ng Philippine National Police,” Dato said in a briefing.

(They can assess it, mediate it, or refer it to the school, which has primary jurisdiction over the incident, or to the Women and Children Protection Desk of the Philippine National Police.)

Dato said the complaint may also be docketed under Department Order No. 20

He said the DOJ maintains that anti-bullying is a commitment under the Constitution and international law.

“Ito po ay siniseryoso na commitment ng departamento at mailalabas na po ang department order na ito by next week,” he said.

(This is a commitment that the department is taking seriously, and the department order will be issued by next week.) —LDF, GMA News