Bullying in school? Here's what students and parents can do
Being bullied can leave students feeling powerless or unsure of what to do next. But they don't have to deal with it alone, as there are steps they can take to protect themselves, report the behavior, and seek support.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara reiterated that any act of bullying has no place in schools as he detailed what students should do if they find themselves on the receiving end of harassment.
According to DepEd Order No. 006 s. 2026, which imposes stricter rules to combat bullying, any person who sees or knows about bullying should report it to any available school personnel by filing a complaint with the disciplining authority.
While anonymous reports are allowed and must be protected from retaliation, no one can be punished based only on such reports without other evidence. With this, schools are required to have a secure channel such as a reporting box or online form.
If the report looks serious enough, a fact-finding investigation starts, where the team interviews the people involved separately, assesses the threat, tells the victim and parents what will be done to stop further bullying, and submits findings to the school head within 10 days.
Afterwards, the alleged bully will be sent a written notice of the complaint together with the supporting evidence. The student and their parents or guardians then have the right to submit a written answer.
The school must issue a written decision that states the facts, the issues, and the reasons for the ruling. Anyone unhappy with the decision can appeal within 15 days to the next higher authority.
How bullies will be punished
Depending on the severity of the offense, the sanctions imposed on a student found responsible for bullying may range from disciplinary measures to more serious penalties.
The first level applies to "minor bullying acts," which are defined as "less severe actions that do not pose immediate physical, psychological, or emotional harm but still disrupt the learning environment."
Interventions may include reprimanding the student, notifying their parents or guardians, and requiring them to undergo appropriate counseling.
The second level of disciplinary action is for "serious bullying acts," which are "severe or repeated behaviors that go beyond minor offenses."
The alleged bully may be punished with suspension for up to five days, referral to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and non-readmission for the next school year if the behavior persists.
The third and last level is for actions that "cannot be resolved by the teacher at the classroom level" and require a higher level of intervention due to their potential impact on student safety and well-being.
These include serious physical harm, making bomb threats and dangerous hoaxes, among others.
The student will be punished by means of non-readmission, permanent exclusion, and referral to authorities.
Angara assured, "Kung ang isang estudyante ay gagamit ng dahas, mananakit, magdadala ng patalim o baril, gagawa ng bomb threat jokes o pranks, o patuloy na mambubully ng kaklase, ipatutupad natin ang pinakamabigat na parusa."
The education sector recently faced a crisis when a series of fatal school shootings and threats across the Philippines took place earlier this year. Recent incidents include an August 18 shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University, as well as a June attack in Tacloban in which two minors killed three teenagers and wounded 20 others.
