Manila: The presidential palace has expressed alarm over viral bullying videos taken at a reputed Catholic educational institution, and called on school authorities to implement laws against all kinds of intimidation.

A video had surfaced several days ago, showing a high school student from the Ateneo de Manila bullying and physically assaulting a student from the same school, after challenging the latter to a fight.

The second student is bloodied in the nose and beaten up by his challenger, known on the campus as “Taekwondo black belter”. The incident took place inside the school toilets.

It was also apparent that this incident was not the first time involving the bullying student, as other videos of him involved in fights with other students also surfaced.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said he saw the video, admitting that it was worrying. “I think the school should investigate the incident and do something about it. You cannot be allowing bullying inside the classroom and school,” Panelo, who is also the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, said.

The Philippines has rules against mental and emotional intimidation and causing actual physical harm, and even cyber bullying, inside and outside the campus through the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013.

However, school authorities are apparently holding back on applying the law to every student. In this case, the student involved in the bullying incident who was said to be related to a prominent industrialist-businessman with strong political connections.

On the education department’s part, it said it would take action on the incident and such similar occurrences as it involves the safety and well-being of students. “The Department of Education (DepEd) observes zero tolerance against any form of violence against the child, as institutionalised by DepEd Order No. 40, s. 2012, or the ‘DepEd Child Protection Policy,’ which also mandates the establishment of a Child Protection Committee (CPC) in all public and private schools,” it said.

It added that the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 compels “any school administration, student, parent or volunteer shall immediately report any instance of bullying”.

“Private schools that fail to comply may face penalties under the law,” the DepEd said.

Rep. Rodel Batocabe, one of the authors of the Anti-Bullying Act said it was disheartening that such incidents were still happening five years after the law was passed. “I reiterate, the school is not a place for bullies,” he said, while urging the parents of the student involved to seek professional help for their child.

Senator Leila de Lima cautioned that the incident should be approached with caution and utter objectivity, otherwise the victim will also suffer the same fate as the offender in front of the public and in cyberspace.

“When we face incidents of bullying, especially involving children, there is only one legitimate goal: to stop the bullying. It is not to seek retribution. Punishment, especially in this case, should be a means to an end: to end the cycle of bullying,” she said.

“To merely pass judgement is counterproductive: society — especially social media — wags an accusatory finger, the child gets defensive, the parents get defensive, the victim might get some relief, but it doesn’t solve the underlying problem. Everybody takes sides when, really, we all want the same thing. To make sure the kid never bullies again,” De Lima said.

Bullying is a recurring concern both for private as well as public school students in the Philippines.