ANTI – BULLYING ACT OF 2013

(RA 10627)

Atty. Cecilia G. Melad-Lazaro, LLM

Chief, Legal Division
Commission on Human Rights, Region II
 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
 Coverage clarified to cover:
– Public and private
– Kindergarten
– Elementary
– Secondary Schools
– Learning Centers
Learning center defined as facilities for learning programs for
out-of-school youth and adults
 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 other student 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
• materially and substantially disrupting the education
process or the orderly operation of a school
 Examples of Bullying
Any unwanted physical contact between the bully and
the victim like:
•Punching •Pushing
•Shoving •Kicking
•Slapping •Tickling
•Headlocks •Inflicting school pranks
•Teasing
•Fighting and the use of available objects as weapons
 Examples of Bullying
Any act that causes damage to a victim’s psyche and/or
emotional well-being.

Any slanderous statement or accusation that causes the

victim undue emotional distress like:
• Directing foul language or profanity at the target
•Name-calling
•Tormenting
•Commenting negatively on victim’s looks, clothes and
body
 Examples of Bullying
•Cyber bullying or any bullying done through the
use of technology or any electronic means.
-it shall include any conduct resulting to
harassment, intimidation, or humiliation, through the
use of other forms of technology
•social bullying: belittling another individual or group
•gender-based bullying: bullying on the basis of
perceived or actual sexual orientation or gender identity
“Bully” – refers to any student who commits acts of
bullying as defined by the Act or this IRR.
“Bullied” or “Victim” – refers to any student who
experiences the acts of bullying or retaliation
as defined by the Act or this IRR.
“Bystander” – refers to any person who witnesses or
has personal knowledge of any actual or
perceived acts or incidents of bullying or
retaliation as defined by this IRR.
Responsibilities of Schools
All public and private kindergarten,
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 a copy of the anti-bullying policies being
adopted by the school.

Such policies must be included in the school’s student

and/or employee handbook and shall be
conspicuously posted on the school walls and
website.
Educate students on:
➢ the dynamics of bullying
➢The anti-bullying policies of the school;
and
➢Mechanisms of the school for the
anonymous reporting of acts of bullying or
retaliation.
Educate parents and guardians about:
➢ dynamics of bullying;
➢The anti-bullying policies of the school;
➢How parents and guardians can provide
support and reinforce such policies at home.
 Maintain a PUBLIC RECORD of
relevant information and
statistics on acts of bullying or
Retaliation in school.

Note: Bullying incidents are confidential

and breach thereof by school personnel
is sanctioned
 Enable students to ANONYMOUSLY
REPORT
Bullying or retaliation.

Subject a student who KNOWINGLY

makes a FALSE ACCUSATION to
DISCIPLINARY ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION.
All schools covered to submit a copy of their anti-
bullying policy to the Division Office within 6 MONTHS
FROM EFFECTIVITY OF IRR (around June 2014) (IRR
signed December 13, 2013)

Private schools who fail to comply with law and IRR

will be given notice of such failure. They shall be given
30 days to comply. Max 1 month extension allowed in
meritorious cases.
What MUST the Anti-Bullying Policies of
schools provide for?
1. Show clearly what acts are prohibited.
2. Prevention and Intervention Programs
3. Mechanism and Procedures in handling
bullying incidents in schools

Note: regularly updated; at a minimum

 PROHIBITED ACTS
The anti-bullying policy shall prohibit:
1. Bullying at the following:
a. school grounds;
b. property immediately adjacent to school grounds;
c. school-sponsored or school-related activities, functions or programs
whether on or off school grounds;
d. school bus stops;
e. school buses or other vehicles owned, leased or used by a school;
f. school buses or school services privately-owned but accredited by the
school.
2. Bullying through the use of technology or an electronic device
or other forms of media owned, leased or used by a school.
3. Bullying at a location, activity, function or program that is not
school-related and through the use of technology or an
electronic device or other forms of media that is not owned,
leased or used by a school; and
4. 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.
 PREVENTION PROGRAM
• Schools to have prevention program that is comprehensive, multi-faceted, and
shall involve all education stakeholders and personnel. This may contain:
– Positive school climate/environment
– Periodic assessment and monitoring of bullying behaviors
– Periodic review of manual of conduct for both students and personnel, in relation to
bullying
– Activities on the issue for students, personnel and service providers
– Personnel development
– Coordination with LGUs and other stakeholders
– Classroom initiatives
– Activities involving parents
 INTERVENTION PROGRAM

• Schools to have intervention programs to

ensure continuity of policies. These may
include:
– Activities
– Corrective and preventive, rather than punitive,
measures
 JURISDICTION

• exclusive: DepEd or private school and not

subject to Barangay settlement
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
witnesses, or that has come to one’s attention
➢To the school principal or school officer or person so
designated by the principal to handle such issues.
 School personnel once notified is expected to
intervene:
• Stop the bullying immediately
• Remove students from harm and provide
medical attention if needed
• Bring the bully to the Guidance Office or
designated personnel

Note: Intake Sheet to be accomplished by schools

whenever there is an incident of bullying
 Step Two: Investigate
➢Upon receipt of such report, the school
principal or the designated school officer or
person shall promptly investigate.
Fact-finding and documentation:
oInterview parties involved separately
oAssess threat level, devise intervention
strategies
oInform parents of both parties of the steps to
be taken
oMake recommendations to CPC

DUE PROCESS MUST BE OBSERVED

 ON DUE PROCESS:
1. Student and his parents to be informed IN
WRITING of the complaint
2. Student to be given the opportunity to answer
with assistance of parents/guardians
3. Decision of the school head shall be IN
WRITING, stating the basis thereof
4. School head’s decision may be appealed to
Division Office of DepEd
 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 they believe that criminal
charges may be pursued against the perpetrator;
b. Take appropriate disciplinary actions;

NOTE: Disciplinary measures must be according to nature,

gravity of the bullying and attendant circumstances
Community service may be a form of punishment if the same
is in the rules and regulations of the school
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;
 If an incident involves students from
more than one school,
the school first informed shall promptly
notify the appropriate administrator of the
other school so that both may take
appropriate action.
 Anti-Bullying Committee

The Child Protection Committee (CPC) established by DepEd

Order 40 shall also be the Anti-Bullying Committee

CPC to determine the intervention programs for parties

involved

CPC supervises the intervention programs

 COMPOSITION OF CPC
1. School Head/Admin-Chair
2. Guidance Counselor/Teacher-Vice Chair
3. Rep of teachers designated by faculty
4. Rep of parents as designated by PTA
5. Rep of students, except in kinder, as designated by
student council-optional for private schools
6. Rep from community as designated by Punong
Barangay, preferably from the Barangay Council for the
Protection of Children (BCPC
Thank You…….