Malacañang assured the public that it is not ignoring the recent cases of school bullying surfacing online as it strongly condemned these incidents, especially the death of students linked to violence.

Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said this after Senator Sherwin Gatchalian expressed alarm over recent cases of bullying and called it a sign of crisis.

"Kinokondena po kung ano man po na bullying, pangha-harass sa mga estudyante po natin, sa mga kabataan po (We condemn any form of bullying or harassment toward our students and the youth)," Castro said in her press briefing on Monday, April 14.

According to the Palace Press Officer, the government responded quickly to the bullying cases.

"Ginawan na po talaga agad ng agarang aksyon ito ng pamahalaan sa pamamagitan din po ng direktiba ng ating Pangulo (The government has immediately taken action on this, following the President's directive)," she added.

Castro particularly cited the interventions done by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Education (DepEd).

"Sa mga ganito pong sitwasyon ay yung mga social worker po na naka-assign pumunta na rin po sa mga schools na nabanggit sa mga involved po ngayon at tinulungan po sila agad (In these kinds of situations, the assigned social workers have already gone to the schools mentioned and have immediately provided assistance)," she said.

"Kahit po ang ating DepEd, nagkaroon na rin po ng pag-i-imbestiga rito. Especially po yung tungkol sa nangyari sa Las Piñas. Kinausap na po ang principal po dito at ang SDO (The DepEd has launched an investigation, particularly the case in Las Piñas where the principal and the Schools Division Office have already been spoken to)," she added.

DepEd data revealed at the Senate Committee on Basic Education hearing last week showed that only 966 of the country's public schools (CPCs) have fully functioning child protection committees meant to address the bullying problem.

According to Gatchalian, this number was small compared to the over 45,000 public schools in the country.

Under Republic Act No. 10627, or the Anti-Bullying Law, CPCs are mandated to handle school bullying cases. A CPC comprises the school head, a guidance counselor, and representatives from different stakeholders.