DAVAO CITY (December 23) — Days after the bullying video became viral, the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) today decided to kick out the junior high school student caught on video bullying another student in the comfort room.
In a statement released on Sunday afternoon, ADMU president Jose Ramon Villarin, S.J. said the penalty forbids the concerned student from returning to the university.
Same statement he posted on the university’s official Twitter and Facebook accounts, the one-page decision about the unnamed student.
Villarin claimed, the University conducted a thorough investigation on the matter and listened to concerned parties.
“The Ateneo is very clear on its stand against bullying,” Villarin said.
The statement added, “There are already policies and processes codified in the Student Handbook, all in accord with 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.”
The university, he said, created a task force to conduct a “comprehensive study” of the current situation as well as to audit present measures and systems with regards to bullying.
The formation of the task force also hopes to recommend to administration on how to make the university a safer and bully-free environment.
“Such an environment shall prevent a culture of silence from harming out student and encourage everyone to speak up against bullying and other forms of misconduct,” Villarin said.
“I have spoken to the parents of both students about this decision and have offered the families continued support to help them overcome this difficult time. We are continuing the investigation as there are other matters involved in the incident,” Villarin said.
Villarin also asked the public to not be part of the bullying, specifically on social media, reiterating by “refusing to add fuel to the fire and helping our children and one another heal.”
“We can summon the courage to stop fighting one another,” Villarin said.
He stressed that ADMU has a clear stand against bullying, which is detailed in the related policies and procedures in their student handbook in accordance with the current legislation.
In a text message to reporters, Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary Annalyn Sevilla said they are working on their statement about ADMU’s decision on the case.
“Secretary Briones [is] now convening key people to validate the report and formulate response,” she said.-Editha Z. Caduaya/NewsLine.ph
