Initial investigation shows that the Tacloban school shooting on June 22 might be “premeditated” or well-planned and one possible motive investigators are looking at is bullying.
“Sinasabi po nila, ‘yung isa raw po ay pinagtatawanan ‘yung haircut niya. The other one ay siguro dahil maliit siya, pero unconfirmed po ito. Sa kanila lang po nanggaling ito,” Philippine National Police (PNP) Spokesperson P/Col. Allan Rae Co said.
(One of the children in conflict with the law said that he was being made fun of because of their haircut, while the other was supposedly targeted because of his height. But that’s still unconfirmed since it only came from them.)
Bullying refers to the repetitive actions of an individual—whether physical, verbal, or electronic—that cause physical or psychological and/or emotional harm to another person, according to Republic Act 10627 or the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013.
Bullying includes any unwanted physical contact with a victim, like punching, pushing, and kicking.
The repetitive expression of slanderous statements or negative comments about a person's appearance, clothing, or body is also a form of bullying.
Among the initial signs that parents or guardians should look out for are sudden changes in a child's behavior.
For instance, if a child who is typically expressive and excited to share about their day in school suddenly returns home displaying a negative shift in mood.
The second indicator is the behavioral changes in a child’s eating or sleeping patterns.
According to Inocencio, the changes in a child’s routine are his/her attempt to respond to a stressor.
“Kahit naman tayo bilang mga adults, kapag mayroon tayong dinadalang problem, minsan wala kang gana na kumain. So, it's the same for kids,” he added.
(Even as adults, when we are carrying a heavy burden or dealing with a problem, we sometimes lose our appetite. It is exactly the same for children.)
Inocencio said that during such situations, the attention and intervention of parents/guardians are necessary.
“It would be good for us to check in na parang, ‘Oh, sino yun? Parang ngayon ko lang narinig yung pangalan na ito,’ o ‘Bago mo ba siyang friend,’ ganyan. Kasi it just gives us a better idea of where or anong nangyayari sa buhay nung anak natin,” Inocencio added.
(It would be good for us to check in and say something like, 'Oh, who is that? I don't think I've heard that name before,' or 'Is that a new friend of yours?' This simply gives us a better idea of what is happening in our child's life.)
When it comes to physical bullying, among the signs that parents should look out for are stomach pain, headaches due to stress, or physical injuries such as bruises or abrasions.
“If a child is being physically bullied, you might see them have injuries, like bruises. Their clothes might get torn. Or their belongings might get 'lost' or be damaged,” United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said.
However, the observation of these signs should be corroborated with your child to confirm if the physical injuries are indeed caused by bullying.
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