Ateneo ‘bully’ claims self-defense as mom says sorry
MANILA, Philippines — The mother of a junior high school student who drew flak on social media after he was caught physically and verbally attacking his peers issued an apology Wednesday, saying the family was “devastated” by the incident.
A student from the Ateneo Junior High School was seen in separate videos apparently bullying his peers—from making a boy say “Bobo ako (I am dumb)” to using martial arts to assault a schoolmate in a campus comfort room.
The shocking videos spread like wildfire on social media and ignited simmering outrage from netizens. Last month, Ateneo De Manila University dismissed the student caught tormenting his peers “after a thorough investigation that included listening to all parties involved.”
In a report by GMA News, the student and his mother — whose faces were blurred on national television — apologized for the incident.
"I would like to apologize for the action of my son. Sa nasaktan niya, sa school kung na-drag man ang school sa isyu na 'to, I apologize (To those who were hurt by my son, to the school if ever it was dragged to the issue, I apologize)" the mother said.
"Pero gusto ko ring hingin yung understanding ng tao na bata itong anak ko eh (But I also want to ask for people’s understanding because my son is a minor)," she added.
Student claims self-defense
Sought for explanation, the Grade Nine student said he acted in self-defense.
He also said he regretted his “violent” behavior.
“I just wish na hindi sinabi ‘yong mga sinabi nila in the first place. ‘Yong sinasabi nila na inatake ko daw sa bathroom ‘yong guy, eh sabay nga kami pumasok. I was just defending myself, hindi naman ako nambu-bully for no reason eh,” the teenager said.
(I just wish people didn’t say those words in the first place. They said I attacked the guy but we went inside the washroom at the same time. I was just defending myself. I won’t bully anyone for no reason)
“Para saken hindi naman bullying ‘yong ginawa ko because I was also defending myself naman in a way. Kaso nga lang, in the video, mukhang ako talaga ‘yong mas aggressive. Pero before that di naman nila alam kung ano ‘yong nangyari ,” he added.
(For me, what I did was not bullying because I was also defending myself in a way. But in the video, it looked like I was more aggressive. But before that incident, people don’t know what happened)
The Commission on Human Rights earlier reminded the public to protect the right to privacy and confidentiality of the children involved in the Ateneo bullying incident. — Ian Nicolas Cigaral
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