A DABAWENYA lawmaker is pushing to penalize bullying people in school, at work, or even on the internet as this crime continues to be rampant in the country.
Pwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Representative Margarita Ignacia "Migs" Nograles filed House Bill (HB) No. 2886 or the "Stop Bullying Act of 2022."
Nograles, who is also the House assistant majority leader, said in her explanatory note that the prevalence of bullying in the country over the years calls for more teeth to the anti-bullying law or the Republic Act No. 10627.
"Having established and equipped with national helpline through the passing of the Republic Act. No. 10627 or the "Anti-Bullying Act on September 12, 2013, the prevalence of bullying in the country has not gotten down drastically," the party-list representative said.
She also revealed that at least six out of 10 students are being bullied, which is nearly three times higher compared to developed countries," Nograles said.
Citing a study from the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (Unicef), the latest data in the country shows that cyberviolence affects half of children aged 13 to 17.
"This violence were experienced by Filipino children in the form of verbal abuse and most of them are in the form of sexual messages and we all know that these can create long lasting emotional and psycholoical scars in every child who experienced being bullied," she said.
Nograles also cited a study conducted in Davao City, which was conducted in order to describe the campus bullying experiences in senior high school students. The study showed that some experienced verbal abuse, physical bullying, and social discrimination.
She added that this was reported by the City Health Office, citing bullying as a major concern and has existed in almost every school in the city.
“This bill seeks to stop bullying by placing ‘Hammurabi’s Code’ on the law by attaching penalties and huge fines and create a more peaceful and tranquil environment for our children and human beings in general,” she added.
In a Facebook post, Nograles admitted that she was also a victim of bullying herself.
“I was a victim of bullying before. No one deserves to be bullied. Layunin po ng panukalang ito ang mabigyan pa ng proteksyon ang lahat ng tao (bata man o matanda) laban sa bullying (The aim of this bill is to give protection to all people (young or old) against bullying),” she said.
Definition of bullying
According to HB 2886, individuals aged 15 and above but not over 18, and who acted without discernment based on an assessment would be subjected to intervention programs facilitated by either the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or the local government units concerned.
However, once the person found guilty of bullying is above over 18 years old, or between 15 to 18 years old but acted with discernment, they may be imprisoned for a maximum of six years.
All those found to be engaged in the act of bullying — regardless of age and discernment — will have to comply with civil liabilities including a penalty ranging from P50,000 to P100,000.
Under Nograles’ proposal, any unwanted physical contact between the bully and the victim like punching, pushing, shoving, kicking, slapping, tickling, headlocks, inflicting excessive pranks, teasing, fighting, and the use of available objects as weapons can be considered acts of bullying.
Other acts considered as bullying include: any act that causes damage to a victim’s psychological and/or emotional well-being; and any slanderous statement or accusation that causes the victim undue emotional distress like directing foul language or profanity at the target, name-calling, tormenting and commenting negatively on the victim’s looks, clothes, and body.
Cyber-bullying, meanwhile, is also penalized when it is done through any conduct resulting in harassment, intimidation, or humiliation, through the use of other forms of technology, such as but not limited to texting, email, instant messaging, chatting, internet, social media, online games, other platforms or formats.
Other provisions of bullying include: Gender-based bullying – any act that humiliates or excludes a person on the basis of perceived or actual sexual orientation and gender identity. Furthermore, any act of retaliation against a person who reports bullying, who provides information during an investigation of bullying, or who is a witness to or has reliable information about bullying, is likewise prohibited; and Social Bullying — any deliberate, repetitive, and aggressive social behavior intended to hurt others or to belittle another individual or group. (RGL)