Malacañang on Monday denounced the reported increasing cases of bullying, harassment, and violence in schools and online.

“Nagpalabas na rin po ng mensahe po dito at kinokondena po kung anuman po na bullying, pangha-harass sa mga estudyante po natin, sa mga kabataan po,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing.

Castro said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered concerned agencies to address the problem after the Department of Education (DepEd) reported a high number of these incidents occurring.

“Ginawan na po talaga agad ng agarang aksyon ito ng pamahalaan sa pamamagitan din po ng direktiba ng ating Pangulo,” Castro said.

Dumlao said victims received help and support from social workers sent by the government.

Castro also said DepEd is investigating a recent stabbing incident in a Las Piñas City school.

Castro added that DepEd personnel have talked to a representative of the Schools Divisions Office (SDO) and the principal of the school where students have been involved in the violent incident.

Data from DepEd earlier showed that more than 79,000 cases of bullying, both physical and online, were recorded from 2019 to 2022. | PND