THE Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) administration has ordered the dismissal of the student whose video while bullying another student inside a comfort room in the school premises went viral.
"This means that he is no longer allowed to come back to the Ateneo," ADMU President Father Jose Ramon Villarin SJ said in a statement.
He, however, said the administration has offered the parents of the dismissed student as well as the victim continued support to help them overcome the matter.
In the said video, the smaller student was seen beating another student taller than him.
Before the beating, the smaller student asked the taller student if he would choose his dignity where he has to kiss his shoes and private part or he will be mauled.
The said video made rounds in the social media.
"The Ateneo is very clear on its stand against bullying. There are already policies and processes codified in the Student handbook, all in accord with the existing legislation, but we still need to ensure that these policies and processes as well as the values they promote are internalized by all members of the community," said Villarin.
"I have thus created a Task Force to conduct a comprehensive study of the current situation, ensure an independent audit of our present measures and systems and promptly recommend to administration how we can create a safer and bully-free environment," he added.
Earlier, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has urged the victims of bullying as well as their families to have such incident reported to the school administration in order for them to deal with it immediately.
PNP deputy spokesperson, Superintendent Kimberly Molitas said such violence should not be taken for granted.
She, however, said sharing and spreading such video will not help both the bully person and his victim.
The PNP also encouraged the school administration to expedite the investigation on the incident as she asked the public to refrain from sharing the videos of bullying online since it will do more harm than good later on.
"Although of course there is a video that has been circulating, we want to make sure na sana yung hinihingi rin ng Ateneo na tulungan sila na tumigil na 'yung pagkalat ng video. Importante na bigyan natin ng privacy both the perpetrator and the victim dahil tandaan po natin mga bata po ito. 'Yung tamang intervention ang kailangan maibigay po natin," she said.
Molitas also said that such incident may also be elevated to the higher authorities like the PNP.
"Meron tayong Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 that defines the procedure on how we go about bullying at nakasaad doon, unang magtake action 'yung ating school administrators muna," she said.
"Upon determination of the case or the incident, it is their job to enforce the law enforcement body. Inaantay po natin 'yung school administration ng Ateneo na siguro to inform or coordinate sa ating mga kapulisan if they find it necessary for the intervention of our law enforcement body doon sa case na 'yun," she added. (SunStar Philippines)