PNP willing to help resolve Ateneo bullying incident

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday said it is ready and willing to assist the Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU) adminsitration in handling and resolving the much-publicized bullying incident involving a junior high school student.

Under the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013, Superintendent Kimberly Molitas, PNP deputy spokesperson, said it is originally the job of the school administrators to take the first action in resolving cases of bullying.

Molitas, however, said the PNP will be ready to assist them should ADMU elevate the case to higher authorities, including to the police.

"We have the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 that defines the procedure on how we go about bullying and it was stated there that the first action shall be taken by the school administrators," Molitas said.

Earlier this week, a video of an ADMU Junior High School student assaulting another student inside a comfort room went viral.

After the first video was released online, several other clips of the same boy attacking other students were also publicized by social media users.

In a statement released Thursday, ADMU president Jose Ramon Villarin assured the public that an investigation is underway.

Meanwhile, the PNP encouraged victims of bullying and their families to stand up against bullying even if it is a difficult thing to do.