Anti Bullying
Act of 2013
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10627
PREPARED BY: MARJOERINE M.
VARGAS
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
President Benigno Aquino III has signed Republic Act 10627, or the
Anti-Bullying Act of 2013, which requires all elementary and
secondary schools to adopt policies that will prevent and address
bullying in the classroom.
The Act was signed last September 12, 2013. It defined bullying as a
the use of written, verbal or electronic expression, or a physical act or
gesture to cause physical or emotional harm by one student to another
student.
SECTION 1 Short Title
This Act shall be known as the
“Anti-Bullying Act of 2013”.
SECTION 2. Acts of Bullying
What Is Bullying?
SECTION 2. Acts of Bullying
For purposes of this Act, “bullying” shall refer to any
◦ severe or repeated use by one or more students of a written, verbal or
electronic expression, or a physical act or gesture, or any combination
thereof, directed at another student that has the effect of actually causing
or placing the latter 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; or
materially and substantially disrupting the education process or the
orderly operation of a school; such as, but not limited to, the following:
Definition of terms
1. The term “bullying” shall also include:
1. “Social bullying” – refers to any deliberate, repetitive and aggressive social behavior intended to hurt others or to belittle another individual or group.
2. “Gender-based bullying” – refers to any act that humiliates or excludes a person on the basis of perceived or actual sexual orientation and gender identity
(SOGI).
c. “Bully” – refers to any student who commits acts of bullying as defined by the Act or this IRR.
d. “Bullied” or “Victim” – refers to any student who experiences the acts of bullying or retaliation as defined by the Act or this IRR.
e. “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.
f. “Learning center” – refers to learning resources and facilities of a learning program for out-of-school youth and adults as defined in DepED Order. No. 43, s.
2013.
g. “Service provider” – refers to any person who is not a teacher or school personnel but who works in the school, such as, but not limited to, security guards,
canteen personnel, utility workers, and transportation service personnel.
h. “Student” – refers to a person who attends classes in any level of basic education, and includes a pupil or learner as defined in DepED Order No. 40, s. 2012.
Types of Bullying
SECTION 2. Acts of Bullying
a. Any unwanted physical contact between the bully and the
victim like
slapping, teasing,
punching,
tickling, fighting
pushing, and the use of
headlock
available
shoving, s,
objects as
kicking, weapons;
inflicting
school pranks,
Types of Bullying
SECTION 2. Acts of Bullying
b. Any act that causes damage to a victim’s psyche and/or
emotional well-being;
Types of Bullying
SECTION 2. Acts of Bullying
c. Any slanderous statement or accusation that causes the
victim undue emotional distress like
directing foul language or profanity at the target,
name-calling,
tormenting and
commenting negatively on victim’s looks, clothes and body;
Types of Bullying
SECTION 2. Acts of Bullying
d. Cyber-bullying or any bullying
done through the use of technology
or any electronic means.
SECTION 3. Adoption of Anti-Bullying
Policies.
–All elementary and secondary schools are hereby directed
to adopt policies to address the existence of bullying in their
respective institutions. Such policies shall be regularly
updated and, at a minimum, shall include provisions which:
a) Prohibit the following acts :
Bullying on school grounds; property immediately adjacent to school grounds; at school-sponsored or
school-related activities, functions or programs whether on or off school grounds; at school bus stops; on
school buses or other vehicles owned, leased or used by a school; or through the use of technology or an
electronic device owned, leased or used by a school;
Bullying at a location, activity, function or program that is not school-related and through the use of
technology or an electronic device that is not owned, leased or used by a school if the act or acts in
question create a hostile environment at school for the victim, infringe on the rights of the victim at
school, or materially and substantially disrupt the education process or the orderly operation of a school;
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;
(b) Identify the range of disciplinary
administrative actions . . .
Identify the range of disciplinary administrative actions that may be taken against a perpetrator for
bullying or retaliation which shall be commensurate with the nature and gravity of the
offense: Provided, That, in addition to the disciplinary sanctions imposed upon a perpetrator of
bullying or retaliation, he/she shall also be required to undergo a rehabilitation program which shall be
administered by the institution concerned. The parents of the said perpetrator shall be encouraged by
the said institution to join the rehabilitation program;
(c) Establish clear procedures and
strategies for:
(1) Reporting acts of bullying or retaliation;
(2) Responding promptly to and investigating reports of bullying or retaliation;
(3) Restoring a sense of safety for a victim and assessing the student’s need for protection;
(4) Protecting from bullying or retaliation of a person who reports acts of bullying, provides
information during an investigation of bullying, or is witness to or has reliable information about an
act of bullying; and
(5) Providing counseling or referral to appropriate services for perpetrators, victims and appropriate
family members of said students;
(d) Enable students to anonymously
report bullying or retaliation:
Provided, however, That no disciplinary administrative
action shall be taken against a perpetrator solely on the basis
of an anonymous report;
(e) Subject a student who knowingly
makes a false accusation of bullying to
disciplinary administrative action;
(f) Educate students on the dynamics of
bullying, the anti-bullying policies of the
school as well as the mechanisms of such
school for the anonymous reporting of
acts of bullying or retaliation;
(g) Educate parents and guardians about
the dynamics of bullying, the anti-
bullying policies of the school and how
parents and guardians can provide
support and reinforce such policies at
home; and
(h) Maintain a public record of relevant information and
statistics on acts of bullying or retaliation in school:
Provided, That the names of students who committed acts of
bullying or retaliation shall be strictly confidential and only
made available to the school administration, teachers
directly responsible for the said students and parents or
guardians of students who are or have been victims of acts
of bullying or retaliation.
All elementary and secondary schools shall provide students and
their parents or guardians a copy of the anti-bullying policies being
adopted by the school. Such policies shall likewise be included in the
school’s student and/or employee handbook and shall be
conspicuously posted on the school walls and website, if there is any.
The Department of Education (DepED) shall include in its training
programs, courses or activities which shall provide opportunities for
school administrators, teachers and other employees to develop their
knowledge and skills in preventing or responding to any bullying act.
SEC. 4. Mechanisms to Address Bullying.
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.
SEC. 4. Mechanisms to Address Bullying.
Any member of the school administration, student, parent or volunteer shall immediately report any instance of
bullying or act of retaliation witnessed, 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, or both. Upon receipt of such a report, the school principal
or the designated school officer or person shall promptly investigate. 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 the school principal or designee believes that criminal charges under the
Revised Penal Code may be pursued against the perpetrator;
(b) Take appropriate disciplinary administrative action;
(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.
SECTION 5. Reporting Requirement.
–All schools shall inform their respective schools division
superintendents in writing about the anti-bullying policies
formulated within six (6) months from the effectivity of this
Act. Such notification shall likewise be an administrative
requirement prior to the operation of new schools .
SECTION 6. Sanction for Noncompliance.
– In the rules and regulations to be implemented pursuant to
this Act, the Secretary of the DepED shall prescribe the
appropriate administrative sanctions on school administrators
who shall fail to comply with the requirements under this Act.
In addition thereto, erring private schools shall likewise suffer
the penalty of suspension of their permits to operate.
SECTION 7.
Implementing Rules and Regulations.
Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the
DepED shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations
to implement the provisions of this Act.
SECTION 8. Separability Clause.
– If, for any reason, any provision of this Act is declared to
be unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or
provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall
continue to be in full force or effect.
SECTION 9. Repealing Clause.
– All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts
thereof which are inconsistent with or contrary to the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or
modified accordingly.
SECTION 10. Effectivity.
– This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general
circulation.
REFERENCES
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2013/09/12/republic-act-no-10627/
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/downloads/2013/12dec/20131213-IRR-RA-10627-BSA.pdf
