BAGUIO CITY — Amid a Department of Education (DepEd) report that there are 80 thousand cases of bullying among students nationwide, the capital town of Mountain Province acted on a bullying case in front of a church involving a so-called martial artist and two minors in Bontoc, Mountain Province.

A video taken on 8 April showed a 19-year-old male applying his “Muay Thai” skills on a 14-year-old boy and another 16-year-old in front of Sta. Rita Church in Bontoc town.

The 19-year-old boy who is a Grade-12 student kicked the two kids on their bodies and head while other kids watched helplessly. 

The video was shared and went viral eliciting countless reactions from netizens and even reached the municipal government of Bontoc.

In a statement, Bontoc Mayor Jerome “Chagsen” B. Tudlong Jr. disclosed that the 19-year-old male was in the custody of the Bontoc Police. He said a formal complaint will be filed against him as part of the ongoing investigation. The Bontoc Police in an update revealed the said 19-year-old male was released pending any case to be filed against him.

The two victims meanwhile will receive counseling by social workers of the Bontoc Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) on 10 April. Said counseling will be in collaboration with the Women and Children Protection Desk of the Philippine National Police.

The municipal government will also provide technical assistance to the parents of the two minors who were made punching bags should they choose to pursue legal action against the mauler.

“As a community, we do not tolerate any form of bullying. I urge everyone to come together to ensure the safety, protection, and well-being of our children and our community as a whole,” appealed Tudlong. 

During a Senate hearing, the DepEd claimed that it has employed broader measures to prevent, report, and respond to abuse in the basic education sector.

Among these is the Child Protection Specialization Course, which aims to equip school personnel with the necessary knowledge, skills, and shift in attitudinal orientation to manage learner protection concerns more effectively.