Cebu Tutors’ Group Cries Foul over Proposed Anti-bullying Law

The Teachers Dignity Coalition (TDC)-Visayas has cried foul over the proposed Anti-Bullying Law that would penalize teachers who bully their students.

Anabelle dela Cerna, TDC-Visayas vice chairman, said the teachers are already burdened by many laws and regulations such as Republic Act No. 7610, or the Child Protection Law, the Department of Education (DepEd) Child Protection Policy and other laws.

”The same laws are use to harass, threaten and intimidate the helpless teachers or extort money from them,” Sela Cerna said.

Dela Cerna said the proposal of Senator Sonny Angara to penalize teachers and call them bullies would be too much.

“Senator Angara, teachers who are often misunderstood and sensationalized for imposing ‘discipline’ are actually the ones that need your protection,” Dela Cerna called on the lawmaker.

Angara has filed a bill that seeks to penalize teachers and other school personnel who bully students, amending R.A. 10627 or the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013.

Angara, the principal author of the proposed Anti-Bullying Act, said the presence of teachers who bully students by humiliating and punishing them in front of the class warrants an amendment to the anti-bullying law to expand its coverage and to provide stiffer penalties against teacher bullying.

Under DepEd Order No. 40, Series of 2012, teachers who bully students by humiliating and scolding them in front of their classmates, and requiring them to stand and face the wall could face administrative sanction

The DepEd said that this form of punishment could cause trauma, mental anguish and emotional disturbance, which can affect the student’s academic performance.

Senate Bill No. 2793 aims to give more teeth to the DepEd order by penalizing a teacher or any other school personnel who commit acts of bullying towards a student with a fine of not less than P50,000 but not more than P100,000 and/or by imprisonment from six months to a year.

If the bullying resulted in the student attempting to commit suicide, the penalty will be a fine of not less than P100,000 but not more than P500,000 and/or by imprisonment from one to three years.

If the suicide attempt results in the death of the victim, the penalty will be a fine of not less than P500,000 but not more than P1 million and/or by imprisonment from three to six years. (PNA) SCS/EB/PJN