AN ALLEGED bullying victim drew out his knife and threatened a female classmate after he was asked if he knows how to masturbate, resulting to at least 27 Grade 7 students of Soledad R. Duterte National High School (SRDNHS) in Baliok, Talomo District, Davao City to pass out due to fear.
In a police report provided by Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Police Colonel Alexander Tagum, between 7:45 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. Thursday, July 11, a child in conflict with the law (CICL) identified as alias “Xian”, 16, allegedly threatened his classmate alias Bea with a knife.
Prior to the incident, the Grade 7 class adviser of SRDNHS while she was conducting her class at the second floor of the building with 160 students of two sections combined, was called to attend some problem downstairs.
After 10 minutes downstairs, her class officers called her because a female student was crying after Xian threatened her with a six-inch knife.
Both students reportedly had a conflict on Wednesday around 3 p.m. after Bea suddenly threw a notebook at Xian due to misinterpretations of his actions.
Xian, however, claimed that Bea and her friend bullied him and laughed at him several times. He added, on the first week of July, Bea and her friends asked him in front of their classmates, “Kabalo ka mo lulo? (Do you know how to masturbate?),” and all their classmates laughed at him.
“He felt so ashamed and embarrassed. The CICL added that the victim (Bea) had male friends, so he brought the knife for his defense, as he was afraid that the victim’s friends might harm him,” the report said.
The CICL had an earlier robbery case in Nabunturan and he was turned over to Nabunturan Bahay Pag-Asa on October 4, 2018 and was released on June 11, 2019. He is temporarily under the custody of his aunt, who is a resident of Nalum Baliok, Davao City.
After the incident in Baliok, Xian was turned over to Davao City Social Service and Development Office (CSSDO) at Barangay Hall of Baliok. A Baliok responder said there were at first six students who cried then later 22 others also cried because of fear and they were hyperventilating, prompting him to call 911 for assistance.
“All 27 female students whom the 911 attended were properly turned over and released to their respective parents/guardians, and the CICL was turned over to his aunt, and it was decided that CICL will temporarily have a modular exam and home-based study, and will be monitored by his adviser monthly. The CICL will also be monitored and evaluated by the social worker,” the report added.
The Department of Education, through Republic Act No. 10627 (Anti-Bullying Act of 2013), requires all public and private schools to submit copies of their child protection or anti-bullying policy to the Division Office. In the same way, a Department Order (D.O) No. 40 series of 2012 (DepEd Child Protection Policy) mandates that “any form of violence against the child and [to] provide establishment of a Child Protection Committee (CPC) in all public and private schools”.
“The Department also encourages learners who experience or witness bullying, abuse, or retaliation to speak up and report verified incidents to their peers, parents, teachers, and the appropriate authorities for proper intervention. Any information relating to the identity and personal circumstances of the bully/ies, the victim/s, or the witness/es shall be treated with utmost confidentiality by the CPC and the school personnel,” Department of Education said in an earlier statement.
SunStar Davao staff called DepEd Davao spokesperson Jenielito Atillo through his mobile phone Thursday but to no avail.