DOJ to start handling bullying cases at local level

Department of Justice. Photo from DOJ Facebook page. MANILA, Philippines—-The Department of Justice (DOJ) will hand down next week an anti-bullying policy that would enable local prosecutors and its action centers nationwide to receive and handle complaints of bullying. According to Justice Undersecretary Ian Dato, the DOJ, through its local prosecution offices and action centers, will soon handle bullying cases in the wake of the incidents of school violence in Tacloban City and Cavite province just as classes opened last month. Three students were killed in Tacloban City, while eight students were injured in two separate school stabbing incidents in Cavite. Article continues after this advertisement READ: Not just bullying: DOJ probes nihilistic extremism in Tacloban shooting “They may assess, mediate, [or] refer to the schools that have primary jurisdiction in the incident,” Dato said in a press briefing on Thursday. “Or they may refer to the women and children protection desk of the PNP (Philippine National Police), or receive and docket the complaint.” This, he added, would be based on Department Circular 20, the DOJ policy on case-buildup by prosecutors. Through this new policy addressing the rise of bullying in schools, the department hopes to provide more platforms and access to victims and their parents, the DOJ official said. Dato noted that the approach would be “victim-centered and trauma-informed” to avoid possible “revictimization” of minors who suffered from bullying in schools. /mr Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.