The Pasig City Council will conduct a parallel investigation into the viral video of bullying involving a Senior High School student.
The forthcoming investigation was confirmed by City Counselor Kiko Rustia, prompted by a viral video on social media showing a man forcing a uniformed teenager to kneel and slapping him several times.
The video shows a lone victim surrounded by groups of young people who are pressuring him to apologize for reasons that are unclear.
In the background, a male voice can be heard seemingly trying to calm the assailant in the video. However, none of the bystanders intervened to stop the incident.
As of writing, the viral video has garnered 73,000 shares and over 52,000 reactions. It has outraged many, particularly parents, who have described it as a clear case of bullying.
The administration of Sagad High School has opted not to provide any comments on the incident in question.
Meanwhile, the Pasig City Government issued a statement today, promising to coordinate with the Department of Education (DepEd), which is leading the investigation into the issue.
"The City Government of Pasig does not condone acts of bullying. We are coordinating closely with the Schools Division Office of Pasig, who has primary jurisdiction to investigate, resolve, and prescribe further interventions to address bullying within and outside school premises," the statement read.
"We take any form of bullying seriously. We shall ensure that appropriate actions through proper channels are taken," it added.
The local government unit (LGU) has appealed for the cessation of video circulation to protect the students involved.
