Senate weighs sanctions for parents of children involved in bullying

MANILA, Philippines — Lawmakers on Monday discussed the possibility of holding parents accountable when their children are involved in bullying, with some senators suggesting school-based community service as a possible consequence.

The issue came up during a joint hearing by the Senate Committee on Basic Education and the Committee on Finance, where senators examined whether the Department of Education’s current policies are enough to address bullying in schools.

Senator Bam Aquino, who heads the education panel, said schools need to focus more on prevention and ensure a faster response when bullying incidents happen.

Aquino said changing behavior starts with making it clear that bullying should never be tolerated. He added that prevention must remain a priority if the country hopes to move away from its reputation for high bullying rates and toward a stricter anti-bullying environment.

He also pointed to growing calls for parents to play a bigger role in addressing the issue, including proposals that they should face penalties if their children are found to be bullying others.

At the same hearing, Aquino emphasized that students should not simply stand by when they witness bullying. Instead, he said, schools should foster a culture where classmates step in and offer help immediately when someone is being mistreated.

He also said school officials should respond quickly to reports of bullying and avoid delays in dealing with violent behavior.

Senator Raffy Tulfo agreed that parents of bullies should face consequences, and proposed community service as one possible measure. He said this could include tasks such as helping maintain school premises.

The Department of Education, for its part, said it is expanding efforts to encourage students to report bullying and support victims.

Lawyer Razzel Ann Requesto told senators that DepEd is conducting training and capability-building not only for teachers but also for students, with the goal of turning young people into “upstanders” who act when they see bullying take place.

She added that the agency is also crafting programs that would deepen the participation of parents in anti-bullying efforts, in line with recommendations from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II).

EDCOM II earlier noted that bullying remains a serious concern in the country, citing data showing that 63 percent of Grade 5 learners in the Philippines experience bullying at least once a week, placing the country among those with the highest rates worldwide.

Senators said the ongoing review seeks to find out whether existing DepEd rules, reporting channels, and school intervention mechanisms are working well enough to curb bullying in Philippine schools.

Tulfo also criticized what he described as a reactive approach to bullying cases, saying authorities should act before situations worsen.

He said schools, police, local social welfare offices, and DepEd should promptly notify parents as soon as bullying incidents are discovered.

Tulfo likewise raised concern over the heavy reliance on formal complaints before action is taken, pointing out that some victims may be too frightened or intimidated to report what happened to them.