Bullying has no place in school. This was expressed very clearly when President Benigno Aquino III signed Republic Act 10627, or the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013, last 12 September 2013.
Hence, it is gut-wrenching and frustrating to read that Fred Aston Mendoza, a Grade 4 student, is now trying to stay alive after he was victimized by bullies in Tanong Elementary School in Malabon. What is worse is to read that the school has no clear policies that will prevent and address bullying in their premises.
The Anti-Bullying Act defines bullying as the use of written, verbal or electronic expression, or a physical act or gesture to cause physical or emotional harm by one student to another student.
The physical aspect of bullying was inflicted on the 9-year-old Fred when he went home last 18 October 2013. The victim's mother, Vilma Santos Mendoza, said she saw her son covered with bruise.
"Hinabol daw siya, tapos hinubaran, yun yung pagkakwento po niya. Tapos pinagsusuntok na siya sa tiyan, sinipa," she added.
Later that night, the boy suffered from high fever. When he was brought to the Philippine Children's Medical Center, it was found out that he was suffering from internal bleeding in his liver. He underwent surgery on 19 October 2013.
It is not clear at this time what the school officials are going to do with this incident or if appropriate measures were imposed on the bullies who were later identified as a 9-yearl old and 11-year old.
The local authorities has also not yet disclosed what cases will be filed with the parents. Right now, some netizens are trying to find out the identities of the families. Hopefully, a shame justice can be done and a record will be kept to tag the family of the young offenders.
You may ask, why is this important to you? Why is this important to EVERYONE? Why is this important to the people charged with protecting children? My answer is this:. You can't undo what has been done to Fred Aston Mendoza, but you can do something about making sure it never happens again and that those who contributed to this abusive behavior are held accountable, unless you want to run the risk that it's a child you care about next time.
Hence, it is gut-wrenching and frustrating to read that Fred Aston Mendoza, a Grade 4 student, is now trying to stay alive after he was victimized by bullies in Tanong Elementary School in Malabon. What is worse is to read that the school has no clear policies that will prevent and address bullying in their premises.
The Anti-Bullying Act defines bullying as the use of written, verbal or electronic expression, or a physical act or gesture to cause physical or emotional harm by one student to another student.
The physical aspect of bullying was inflicted on the 9-year-old Fred when he went home last 18 October 2013. The victim's mother, Vilma Santos Mendoza, said she saw her son covered with bruise.
"Hinabol daw siya, tapos hinubaran, yun yung pagkakwento po niya. Tapos pinagsusuntok na siya sa tiyan, sinipa," she added.
Later that night, the boy suffered from high fever. When he was brought to the Philippine Children's Medical Center, it was found out that he was suffering from internal bleeding in his liver. He underwent surgery on 19 October 2013.
It is not clear at this time what the school officials are going to do with this incident or if appropriate measures were imposed on the bullies who were later identified as a 9-yearl old and 11-year old.
The local authorities has also not yet disclosed what cases will be filed with the parents. Right now, some netizens are trying to find out the identities of the families. Hopefully, a shame justice can be done and a record will be kept to tag the family of the young offenders.
You may ask, why is this important to you? Why is this important to EVERYONE? Why is this important to the people charged with protecting children? My answer is this:. You can't undo what has been done to Fred Aston Mendoza, but you can do something about making sure it never happens again and that those who contributed to this abusive behavior are held accountable, unless you want to run the risk that it's a child you care about next time.