Anti-Bullying Act of 2013

(REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10627)

AN ACT REQUIRING ALL ELEMENTARY AND
SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO ADOPT POLICIES
TO PREVENT AND ADDRESS THE ACTS OF
BULLYING IN THEIR INSTITUTIONS

BY:
ATTY. DEBBIE G.
DULAY-DEL VAL
Public Attorney
Cordillera Administrative Region
Baguio City
For the
La Trinidad Local Council for
the Protection of Children
&
Child and Family Services
Philippines
Tiptop Rd., Ambuklao, Baguio
City, 29 November 2013

What is bullying?
It refers to:
a) Any severe or repeated use
b) By one or more students
c) Of a written, verbal or electronic
expression, or a physical act or
gesture, or any combination thereof
d) Directed at another student

e) that has the effect of:

)actually causing or placing the latter in reasonable
fear of physical or emotional harm or damage to
his property;
)creating a hostile environment at school for the
other student;
)infringing on the rights of the other student at
school; or
)materially and substantially disrupting the
education process or the orderly operation of a
school;

 Bullying in school is a frequent and serious

problem
A student is being bullied or victimized
when exposed, repeatedly over time, to
intentional injury or discomfort inflicted by
one or more students. It implies an
imbalance of power or strength in which
others victimize one child
Skiba (2002, in Corrigan, 2004)]

[According to Peterson and

Bullying vs. Usual Conflicts

Bullying can be differentiated from the
usual conflicts between students.
The former is a combination of
aggression and power while the latter
has no deliberate intention to hurt
physically and/or emotionally.

Two Types of Bullying

DIRECT BULLYING - involves physical and
verbal aggression

Consisted of name calling, taunting, hurtful

teasing, insults, put downs, intimidation,
extortion, harassment, and/or threats.
Such form of bullying was done mostly by male
students.

INDIRECT BULLYING - involves

relational/social bullying

Based on a study done by Catherine O. Espero and Mary Grace DP. Espinosa in 2010 for the University
of the Philippines (http://journals.upd.edu.ph/index.php/ali/article/view/1765/1681)

Two Types of Bullying

INDIRECT BULLYING - involves
relational/social bullying

Involved gossiping, spreading rumors, writing

hurtful notes (i.e. cellphone messages, online
blogs), and exclusion from games or groups.
Those incidents happened mostly among
groups of female friends.

Based on a study donein 2010 by Catherine O. Espero and Mary Grace DP. Espinosa for the
University of the Philippines (http://journals.upd.edu.ph/index.php/ali/article/view/1765/1681)

Examples of Bullying
punching
pushing
shoving
kicking
slapping
tickling
headlocks

inflicting school
pranks
teasing
fighting and
the use of available
objects as weapons

Examples of Bullying
Any slanderous statement
or accusation that causes
the victim undue
emotional distress like:
directing foul language or
profanity at the target

name-calling
tormenting and
commenting
negatively on victims
looks, clothes and
body

Examples of Bullying
Any act that causes damage to a victims
psyche and/or emotional well-being;
Cyber-bullying or any bullying done
through the use of technology or any
electronic means.

Responsibilities of Schools
All elementary and secondary schools
must adopt policies
which address
the existence of bullying
in their respective institutions

Responsibilities of Schools
The schools shall provide students and their
parents or guardians of a copy of the antibullying policies being adopted by the school
Such policies must also be included in the
schools student and/or employee handbook and
shall be conspicuously posted on the school walls
and website

What must the

Anti-bullying Policies
of schools provide for?

1. Show clearly what acts are

prohibited

2. Identify the range of disciplinary

administrative actions that may be
taken against a perpetrator for
bullying or retaliation
Note: These actions shall be
commensurate to the nature and
gravity of the offense

3. Establish clear procedures and

strategies for:
Reporting acts of bullying or retaliation;
Responding promptly to and
investigating reports of bullying or
retaliation;
Restoring a sense of safety for a victim
and assessing the students need for
protection;

3.
Establish
clear
procedures
and
strategies for:
Protecting from bullying or retaliation of a
person who reports acts of bullying,
provides information during an investigation
of bullying, or is witness to or has reliable
information about an act of bullying; and
Providing counseling or referral to
appropriate services for perpetrators,
victims and appropriate family members of
said students.

4. Enable students to anonymously

report bullying or retaliation:
Note: But no disciplinary administrative action
shall be taken against a perpetrator solely on
the basis of an anonymous report

5. Subject a student who knowingly

makes a false accusation of bullying
to disciplinary administrative action

6. Educate students on the:

dynamics of bullying;
anti-bullying policies of the school; and
mechanisms of such school for the
anonymous reporting of acts of bullying
or retaliation

7. Educate parents and guardians

about the
dynamics of bullying;
anti-bullying policies of the school; and
how parents and guardians can provide
support and reinforce such policies at
home

8. Maintain a public record of

relevant information and statistics
on acts of bullying or retaliation in
school

Anti-Bullying
Mechanisms

The school principal or any person

who holds a comparable role
shall be responsible for the
implementation and oversight of
policies intended to address bullying.

Step One: REPORT

Any member of the school administration,
student, parent or volunteer shall
immediately report
any instance of bullying or act of
retaliation witnessed, or that has come to
ones attention,
to the school principal or school officer or
person so designated by the principal to
handle such issues

Step Two: INVESTIGATE

Upon receipt of such a report, the
school principal or the designated school
officer or person shall promptly
investigate.

Step Three: TAKE ACTION

If it is determined that bullying or retaliation
has occurred, the school principal or the
designated school officer or person shall:
a) Notify the law enforcement agency if the
school principal or designee believes that
criminal charges under the Revised Penal Code
may be pursued against the perpetrator;
b) Take appropriate disciplinary administrative
action;

Step Three: TAKE ACTION

c) Notify the parents or guardians of the
perpetrator; and
d) Notify the parents or guardians of the
victim regarding the action taken to
prevent any further acts of bullying or
retaliation.

Step Three: TAKE ACTION

Note: If an incident of bullying or retaliation
involves students from more than one school,
the school first informed of the bullying or
retaliation shall promptly notify the
appropriate administrator of the other school
so that both may take appropriate action.

Some
Important Points

Can bullying be done outside school

grounds?
YES!
R.A. 10627 also prohibits bullying:
at a location, activity, function or program that is not school-related
and through the use of technology or an electronic device that is
not owned, leased or used by a school
if the act or acts in question:
a) create a hostile environment at school for the victim,
b)infringe on the rights of the victim at school, or
c) materially and substantially disrupt the education process or the
orderly operation of a school

If you report a bullying incident, are

you protected?
YES!
R.A. 10627 prohibits retaliation against a
person:
who reports bullying,
who provides information during an
investigation of bullying, or
who is a witness to or has reliable
information about bullying;

Can you report a bullying incident

anonymously?
YES!
R.A. 10627 states however, that no
disciplinary administrative action shall be
taken against a perpetrator solely on the
basis of an anonymous report

Will the perpetrator of bullying or

retaliation be rehabilitated?
YES!
R.A. 10627 states that, in addition to the
disciplinary sanctions, the perpetrator of bullying or
retaliation shall also be required to undergo a
rehabilitation program which shall be administered
by the institution concerned.
The parents of the said perpetrator shall be
encouraged by the said institution to join the
rehabilitation program.

Can the names of the perpetrators

be made public?
The names of students who committed acts of bullying
or retaliation shall be strictly confidential; and only
made available to the:
o school administration
o teachers directly responsible for the said students
and
o parents or guardians of students who are or have
been victims of acts of bullying or retaliation

Recommendations for
Action Plans in Schools
The school administration should therefore plan a
bullying awareness campaign and involvement in all
levels (K to 12).
The emphasis is on developing a caring school
environment.
The administrators, faculty, staff, parents, and
students should know the basic facts about bullying.
School staff need to learn when and how to
intervene.

Based on a study done by Catherine O. Espero and Mary Grace DP. Espinosa in 2010 for the University of the
Philippines (http://journals.upd.edu.ph/index.php/ali/article/view/1765/1681)

Recommendations for
Action Plans in Schools
The teachers should know how to
intervene in bullying incidents, improve
classroom management, and recognize
and reinforce positive behaviors of
students.
The homeroom advisers can discuss
bullying and ways to get along with
others.

Based on a study done by Catherine O. Espero and Mary Grace DP. Espinosa in 2010 for the University of the
Philippines (http://journals.upd.edu.ph/index.php/ali/article/view/1765/1681)

Recommendations for
Action Plans in Schools
Student leaders must be more vigilant
and concerned in maintaining a caring
environment.
They can assign specific student
officers to monitor places prone to
bullying classrooms, hallways, comfort
rooms, playgrounds, and canteen.

Based on a study done by Catherine O. Espero and Mary Grace DP. Espinosa in 2010 for the University of
the Philippines (http://journals.upd.edu.ph/index.php/ali/article/view/1765/1681)

Recommendations for
Action Plans in Schools
Parents should be encouraged to view
their school involvement as a
responsibility.
Parenting seminars, organized by the
guidance counselors, can focus on
positive forms of discipline.

Based on a study done by Catherine O. Espero and Mary Grace DP. Espinosa in 2010 for the University of
the Philippines (http://journals.upd.edu.ph/index.php/ali/article/view/1765/1681)

Recommendations for
Action Plans in Schools
The guidance counselors should
incorporate a program which teaches
skills and strategies to avoid
victimization. This can be conducted
during group guidance classes.

Based on a study done by Catherine O. Espero and Mary Grace DP. Espinosa in 2010 for the University of
the Philippines (http://journals.upd.edu.ph/index.php/ali/article/view/1765/1681)

Recommendations for
Action Plans in Schools
The topic which should be addressed
first must be about recognizing the
bullying behaviors. The students need to
learn to differentiate bullying from the
usual playful teasing or petty quarrels
by knowing the definition of bullying and
its different forms.

Based on a study done by Catherine O. Espero and Mary Grace DP. Espinosa in 2010 for the University of
the Philippines (http://journals.upd.edu.ph/index.php/ali/article/view/1765/1681)

Recommendations for
Action Plans in Schools
The second topic should be on how to
refuse bullying. Appropriate ways to
handle bullies should be discussed and
demonstrated through role plays in
class.
The last topic should be on reporting
bullying incidents.

Based on a study done by Catherine O. Espero and Mary Grace DP. Espinosa in 2010 for the University of
the Philippines (http://journals.upd.edu.ph/index.php/ali/article/view/1765/1681)

Recommendations for
Action Plans in Schools
Bullying incidents should be reported to
the homeroom adviser, subject teacher,
or guidance counselor.
The students must know the necessary
facts or information needed in
reporting a bullying incident so that
proper and immediate action can be
taken by the school authority.

Based on a study done by Catherine O. Espero and Mary Grace DP. Espinosa in 2010 of the University of the
Philippines (http://journals.upd.edu.ph/index.php/ali/article/view/1765/1681)

Recommendations for
Action Plans in Schools
Studies related to the effectiveness and/or
impact of bullying awareness program can be
conducted in the future.
A case study of students identified as bullies or
victims can also be done to learn more about the
reasons for bullying and its effects to both the
bully and the victim.
Afterwards, appropriate intervention programs
and counseling can be given to them

Based on a study done by Catherine O. Espero and Mary Grace DP. Espinosa in 2010 for the University of the Philippines
(http://journals.upd.edu.ph/index.php/ali/article/view/1765/1681)

Anti-Bullying Campaign Reminder

THANK YOU AND ENJOY

THE REST OF THE
SEMINAR!