MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Taekwondo Association sanctioned a young Taekwondo practitioner involved in a bullying incident caught on video.
The association indefinitely banned the junior high school student from all sanctioned events not limited to Taekwondo-related events, belt promotions, tournaments or facilities of member institutions.
Related Stories
The PTA also recommended that the student undergo supervised counseling and rehabilitation for him to be reinstated.
He will then undergo another evaluation after compliance with the rehabilitation program prior to reinstatement. The young practitioner may still be under probationary status for at least a year after the evaluation.
"The aim for this is to allow the individual to own responsibility for his actions, show remorse and contribute positively to the community," PTA President Robert Aventajado said in a statement.
Should the student and the family decline this option, the student will be expelled from the association.
"The PTA is reinforcing its teaching guidelines on its principles to ensure it remains relevant in children's day-to-day activities as well as in social media," the statement read.
The group also appealed to the public to be mindful of their comments on social media as the subjects in the bullying incident are minors.
"We truly believe that the best way to move forward from this incident is to provide the child with the necessary guidance and mentorship and an opportunity to exhibit remorse and provide restitution to the community in general," Aventajado said.
The decision of the Taekwondo body to ban the young practitioner came after Ateneo de Manila University announced its dismissal of the student.
Under the student handbook of Ateneo's Senior High School, fighting and physical assault are among violations that can lead to dismissal.
"This means that he is no longer allowed to come back to the Ateneo. I have spoken to the parents of both students about this decision and we have offered the families continued support to help them overcome this difficult time," ADMU President Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin SJ said in a statement. — Patricia Lourdes Viray