Your anak comes home quiet. Won't eat. Started faking stomachaches to avoid school. You ask what's wrong and get nothing — or worse, "Wala naman, Ma."
Bullying doesn't always leave bruises you can see. And a lot of parents don't know that under Philippine law, your child's school has a legal obligation to act.
ELI5 / Madaling Sabihin: RA 10627 — ang Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 — nag-uutos sa lahat ng elementarya at sekondarya na may sariling patakaran laban sa bullying. Kasama ang pisikal, berbal, at cyber-bullying. Kung hindi susunod ang paaralan, maaaring masuspinde o maputol ang kanilang permit na mag-operate.
Totoong Kwento: Si Nico, Grade 7 sa Davao City
Si Nico, 13 anyos, ay isang Grade 7 student sa isang public high school sa Davao City. Araw-araw, may grupo ng classmates na nanunukso sa kanya sa loob ng classroom at sa Facebook group ng klase — tinatawag siyang "tanga," kino-comment ang kanyang damit, at minsan ay tinutulak sa hallway.
Sinabi ng kanyang ina kay Mrs. Reyes, ang class adviser. Sagot: "Kabataan pa lang yan, ganyan talaga."
Mali ang sagot ni Mrs. Reyes. Under RA 10627, ang paaralan ay legally required to investigate and act within a reasonable time. Hindi pwedeng i-dismiss bilang normal na kabataan.
Ano ba Talaga ang Sinasabi ng Batas
Republic Act No. 10627, signed by President Aquino on September 12, 2013, requires every elementary and secondary school — public and private — to adopt a written anti-bullying policy.
Section 2 defines bullying as any severe or repeated act by one or more students directed at another student that:
- Causes or places the victim in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm
- Creates a hostile environment at school
- Infringes on the victim's rights at school
- Materially disrupts the education process
The law covers four types:
1. Physical bullying — punching, pushing, shoving, kicking, slapping, use of objects as weapons
2. Verbal/emotional bullying — name-calling, foul language, tormenting, commenting negatively on looks, clothes, or body
3. Psychological bullying — any act that damages a victim's psyche or emotional well-being
4. Cyber-bullying — bullying through technology or any electronic means (Section 2d)
Ano ang Ibig Sabihin Nito Para sa Iyo
If your child is being bullied at school — or on a school-related group chat — here is what the law guarantees:
The school MUST have a written policy. Under Section 3, every school must adopt a policy that prohibits bullying, identifies disciplinary actions, establishes reporting procedures, and protects reporters from retaliation.
Your child can report anonymously. Section 3(d) says schools must enable anonymous reporting — although no disciplinary action can be taken solely on an anonymous report alone.
The principal is personally accountable. Section 4 puts the school principal (or comparable officer) directly responsible for implementation and oversight. They must investigate, take disciplinary action, and notify both the bully's parents and the victim's parents of what was done.
Cyberbullying is covered even if it happens off-campus. Section 3(a)(2) covers bullying through personal devices outside school if it creates a hostile environment at school or infringes on the victim's rights.
The bully gets rehabilitation, not just punishment. Under Section 3(b), on top of disciplinary action, the perpetrator must undergo a rehabilitation program. Parents are encouraged to join.
Schools must post and distribute the policy. Section 3 requires schools to give a copy to students and parents, include it in student handbooks, and post it on school walls and websites.
Ano ang Maling Alam ng Karamihang Pilipino
"Normal lang ang bullying. Part of growing up." Hindi. RA 10627 explicitly categorizes bullying as a legal violation requiring a formal school response. "Kabataan pa lang" is not a valid answer.
"Ang cyberbullying ay hindi saklaw ng paaralan — private phone yon." Hindi tama. If the bullying — even through personal phones — creates a hostile environment at school or disrupts school operations, the school has jurisdiction under Section 3(a)(2).
"Pag anonymous ang reklamo, wala nang mangyayari." Partially true. The school cannot take disciplinary action based solely on an anonymous report — but they are still required to investigate. The anonymous report triggers a process, not nothing.
"Private school? Exempted sila." False. The law applies to all elementary and secondary schools, public and private (Section 3). Private schools that fail to comply face suspension or cancellation of their operating permits (Section 6).
Para sa mga OFW / For OFWs
If you're working abroad and your child is in school in the Philippines, this law directly protects them.
Ilang bagay na dapat malaman:
- Your child has the right to receive a copy of the school's anti-bullying policy. Ask the school to email or message it to you directly.
- If your child reports bullying and the school fails to act, you — even from abroad — can file a complaint with the DepEd Schools Division Office. You don't have to be physically present.
- Cyberbullying is particularly relevant for children of OFWs. Kids who miss a parent abroad can be emotionally vulnerable targets. Online harassment directed at them through group chats counts under RA 10627.
- If the situation escalates to criminal harassment, the Philippine National Police can be contacted. You can coordinate remotely or authorize a local relative to file on your behalf.
Kung Nilabag ang Karapatan ng Iyong Anak — Ano ang Gagawin
Hakbang 1: Mag-report sa principal o designated officer ng paaralan. The law requires immediate investigation (Section 4). Do this in writing — email or text — so you have a record. Pangalanan ang bully, ilarawan ang insidente, at sabihin ang petsa.
Hakbang 2: Humingi ng kopya ng anti-bullying policy ng paaralan. You are legally entitled to it under Section 3. This tells you the school's specific procedures and timelines.
Hakbang 3: Kung walang aksyon ang paaralan sa loob ng makatwirang panahon, mag-file ng complaint sa DepEd Schools Division Office (SDO). The SDO has jurisdiction over all public schools in a division and oversight over private schools. Bring written evidence.
Hakbang 4: Para sa malalang kaso (physical harm, threats), pwedeng mag-report sa barangay o PNP. Severe bullying may also constitute violations under the Revised Penal Code (e.g., physical injuries, grave threats). The school principal is required under Section 4(a) to notify law enforcement if criminal charges may apply.
Hakbang 5: Humingi ng tulong sa PAO (Public Attorney's Office) kung kailangan ng legal na representasyon. PAO is free. Hotline: 1-800-10-PAO-8888.
Mga Kaugnay na Batas
- RA 7610 — Special Protection of Children Against Abuse (Child Abuse Law) — covers more serious forms of child abuse, including those that may arise from severe bullying situations
- RA 10175 — Cybercrime Prevention Act — cyberbullying may also fall under cyber libel or online harassment provisions
- RA 9262 — Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act — when bullying targets female students and constitutes psychological violence
Mga Madalas na Tanong (FAQ)
Tanong: Puwede bang ipatanggal sa paaralan ang bully? Sagot: Possible, pero it's not the default outcome. Under Section 3(b), the primary intervention is a combination of disciplinary action and a rehabilitation program. Expulsion or transfer is one of the heavier disciplinary options available, but only for serious and repeated violations.
Tanong: Kung hindi ako naniniwala sa aksyon ng paaralan, saan ako pupunta? Sagot: File a complaint with the DepEd Schools Division Office. For private schools, you can also go to DepEd's private schools office. If there is criminal conduct involved, go to the PNP or barangay. PAO can assist with free legal advice.
Tanong: Mayroon bang criminal penalty ang RA 10627 mismo? Sagot: The law imposes administrative penalties on school administrators who fail to comply (Section 6) — including suspension or cancellation of the school's operating permit. For the bully personally, criminal liability would have to come from other laws (like the Revised Penal Code or RA 7610) depending on the severity of the act.
Pinagkukunan / Sources
- Republic Act No. 10627 — Anti-Bullying Act of 2013. Approved September 12, 2013. lawphil.net
- Department of Education — Anti-Bullying Guidelines: deped.gov.ph
Pangkalahatang impormasyon lamang ito. Hindi ito legal na payo. Para sa tulong, makipag-ugnayan sa PAO sa 1-800-10-PAO-8888 o sa pinakamalapit na tanggapan ng DepEd Schools Division.
By Irvin Abarca & Claude (AI Research Partner) | Published 2026-05-13 | 7 min read