SCREENSHOT of the viral bullying incident in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur. (Mayor JJ Bueno FB)
NARVACAN, Ilocos Sur – Police, local government officials, and the Department of Education (DepEd) are investigating a viral bullying incident here on Wednesday.
Police said the incident occurred at Quinarayan Elementary School. A video of the incident circulated online Thursday and reported to the police on Friday.
Police Lt. Reynald Ramos, chief of police of Narvacan, said
police, the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO), and the local government unit (LGU) are jointly investigating the incident.DepEd-Ilocos Sur is also conducting an investigation. They said they are aware of the videos circulating online showing the bullying of a learner during lunch break in the school under their jurisdiction. “SDO Ilocos Sur does not and will never tolerate bullying, especially in schools.”
DepEd said procedures under their Child Protection Policy are being implemented by the Learner Protection Team of SDO Ilocos Sur.
“We will ensure that the acts of the bullies receive appropriate sanctions while taking into consideration their right to due process. The victim and the entire class involved will also receive intervention from guidance counselors in coordination with the DSWD. The school has been visited by the PNP and the MSWDO as part of their investigation.”
They reiterated their commitment to ensuring that every learner is protected from physical, sexual, and psychological harm and vowed to cooperate with authorities conducting an independent investigation.
The mother of the injured child, Raquel, said she is determined to file a complaint. She said this was not the first time her child was bullied.
She admitted that her child teased her classmate but described it as a minor matter and said she could not accept the severity of the injuries her child sustained.
The family is currently awaiting the results of the child’s CT scan after she was reportedly hit and injured.
The parents of the child involved admitted their child was at fault and said they do not condone his actions.
They expressed their intention to personally speak with the injured child’s parents to ask for forgiveness and are hoping for a peaceful resolution, noting that their children are still young and studying in the same school.