Officials of Colegio de San Agustin (CSA) in Makati condemned the reported students’ brawl inside its campus on Dec. 5, which has already circulated on social media.
According to a statement released by the school on Tuesday, Dec. 6, one of its roving security guards received a report regarding an alleged accident inside the restroom where he found two boys wounded and in need of medical assistance.
After the boys were treated at the school clinic, the coordinator for Campus Discipline, Safety, and Security, who also responded to the scene, found out that the incident was not an accident, but a fight between two Grade 9 students.
Several videos and photos of the said the fight also circulated on social media, calling the attention of the school.
"The school does not tolerate or condone violence. We have institutionalized our child protection policy and guidelines and constantly updated our student handbook emphasizing the importance of positive student discipline and compassion for others. Our school's SAFE (School Advocating a Friendly Environment) Program was launched in 2008 where activities are geared towards disseminating information on negative consequences of bullying and how to prevent them. These policies are communicated to all students to ensure that they know their rights, duties, and responsibilities." CSA said.
The school said the Discipline Group of the High School Department has convened and conducted inquiries in direct communication with the students involved and their parents immediately after the incident.
“As we assure the public that the school is treating this matter with extreme urgency and importance, we remind everyone to be mindful of consequences of sharing videos or photos on social media involving the minor students and avoid encouraging acts of violence." it added.
For its part, the Department of Education (DepEd) said it has alerted the DepEd regional director and schools division superintendent about the incident.
“The DepEd, through its Learner Rights and Protection Office, has been spearheading efforts against bullying, as well as all forms of abuse, in our schools. The alleged fighting incident involves a private school, over which DepEd only has reasonable supervision and regulation,” DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa said in a statement.
“We have instructed our Schools Division Office (SDO) to coordinate with the subject private school. We were informed that an investigation on the matter is already being conducted by school officials. We shall continue to monitor the developments,” he added.