H. No.

5496

Republic of the Philippines

Congress of the Philippines
Metro Manila
Fifteenth Congress
Third Regular Session

Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-third day of July, two thousand
twelve.

[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

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress

assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Anti-Bullying Act of 2013”.

SEC. 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:

a. Any unwanted physical contact between the bully and the victim like punching, pushing,
shoving, kicking, slapping, tickling, headlocks, inflicting school pranks, teasing, fighting and
the use of available objects as weapons;

b. Any act that causes damage to a victim’s psyche and/or emotional well-being;

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; and

d. Cyber-bullying or any bullying done through the use of technology or any electronic
means.
SEC. 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:

(1) 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;

(2) 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; and

(3) 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 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.

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.

If an incident of bullying or retaliation involves students from more than one school, the
school first informed of the bullying or retaliation shall promptly notify the appropriate
administrator of the other school so that both may take appropriate action.

SEC. 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.

Beginning with the school year after the effectivity of this Act, and every first week of the
start of the school year thereafter, schools shall submit a report to their respective schools
division superintendents all relevant information and statistics on acts of bullying or
retaliation. The schools division superintendents shall compile these data and report the
same to the Secretary of the DepED who shall likewise formally transmit a comprehensive
report to the Committee on Basic Education of both the House of Representatives and the
Senate.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 10. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least
two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,
(Sgd.) JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA (Sgd.) FELICIANO BELMONTE JR.
Acting Senate President Speaker of the House
of Representatives

This Act which originated in the House of Representatives was finally passed by the House
of Representatives and the Senate on June 5, 2013.

(Sgd.) EMMA LIRIO-REYES (Sgd.) MARILYN B. BARUA-YAP

Secretary of the Senate Secretary General
House of Representatives

Approved: SEP 12 2013

(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III

President of the Philippines
RA 10627: The Anti-Bullying
Act
A Primer

A. Introduction

Republic Act 10627, or the Anti-Bullying Act (the “Act”), aims to protect children enrolled
in kindergarten, elementary, and secondary schools and learning centers (collectively,
“Schools”) from being bullied. It requires Schools to adopt policies to address the
existence of bullying in their respective institutions.

B. Bullying

1. What is Bullying?

Bullying, as defined under the Act, is 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:

Any unwanted physical contact between the bully and the victim like punching, pushing,
shoving, kicking, slapping, tickling, headlocks, inflicting school pranks, teasing, fighting
and the use of available objects as weapons;

Any act that causes damage to a victim’s psyche and/or emotional well-being;

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; and

Cyber-bullying or any bullying done through the use of technology or any electronic
means. The term shall also include any conduct resulting to harassment, intimidation, or
humiliation, through the use of other forms of technology, such as, but not limited to
texting, email, instant messaging, chatting, internet, social media, online games, or
other platforms or formats.

Social bullying, or any deliberate, repetitive and aggressive social behavior intended to
hurt others or to belittle another individual or group.

Gender-based bullying, or any act that humiliates or excludes a person on the basis of
perceived or actual sexual orientation and gender identity.

As such, any person who commits any of the foregoing acts, is considered a
bully. Furthermore, any act of 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, is likewise prohibited.

2. Where may bullying be committed?

Bullying may happen at the following:

School grounds;

Property immediately adjacent to School grounds;

School-sponsored or School-related activities, functions or programs whether on or off

School grounds;

School bus stops;

School buses or other vehicles owned, leased or used by a School; or

School buses or School services privately-owned but accredited by the School.

Bullying may also occur at unrelated locations, functions or programs, through the use
of technology or an electronic device or other forms of media, regardless if such is
owned, leased, or used by the School.

C. School Obligations

1. What are required of Schools under the Act?

Schools are directed to adopt policies, which are to be regularly updated, to address the
existence of bullying in their respective institutions. These policies are to be reported to
the appropriate school division superintendent of the Department of Education
(“Department”) during the first week of every academic year. During this period, the
School shall also submit a report of relevant information and statistics on bullying and
retaliation culled from the previous academic year.

2. What must these policies contain?

First of all, the policies must prohibit bullying as already defined. Schools must likewise
define the range of administrative disciplinary actions that may be taken against a bully,
or a person who commits retaliation.These actions must be commensurate with the
nature and gravity of the offense committed. Such actions may include written
reprimands, community service, suspension, exclusion or expulsion, as the case may
be.In addition to any action taken against a perpetrator of bullying or retaliation must
necessarily include the requirement that the perpetrator enter into a rehabilitation
program administered by the School.

The School shall also educate parents and guardians about bullying, its effects, the anti-
bullying policies of the School, and how such parents or guardians can provide support
in imparting upon their charges the gravity of bullying, and to reinforce the policies of the
School. The School shall provide the students and their parents or guardians with
copies of these policies, which shall likewise be included in the student and employee
manual of the School.

The School shall likewise establish clear procedures and strategies for:

Reporting acts of bullying or retaliation. The School must provide an avenue wherein
students may anonymously report acts of bullying or retaliation;

Responding promptly to and investigating reports of bullying or retaliation;

Restoring a sense of safety for a victim and assessing the student’s need for protection;

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

Providing counseling or referral to appropriate services for perpetrators, victims and

appropriate family members of said students;
In all cases wherein a penalty may possibly be imposed, due process must be observed
to prevent false accusations of bullying. At a minimum, the School complies with the
requirements of due process by:

Informing the student and parent or guardian of the complaint in writing;

Giving the student, with the assistance of his parents or guardian, an opportunity to
answer the complaint in writing;

Requiring the School head to issue the decision, in writing, and stating the facts and
reasons thereof; and

Allowing an appeal for the decision with the appropriate division office of the
Department.

Any student, after due investigation, found to have knowingly made a false accusation
of bullying shall be subjected to appropriate disciplinary action or intervention in
accordance with the rules of the School or the Department.

3. Who will implement these anti-bullying policies of the School?

The School’s Child Protection Committee (“Committee”) shall serve as the body which
will handle all bullying cases in the School. The Committee shall be composed of:

the School head or administrator as chairperson;

the School guidance counselor/teacher as vice chairperson;

a representative of the Schools teachers as designated by the School faculty;

a representative of the parents as designated by the Parents-Teachers Association;

a representative of the students, except in kindergarten, as designated by the student

council; and

a representative of the community as designated by the barangay captain wherein the

school is located. The inclusion of a community representative may be dispensed with
by private Schools.
4. What are the duties of the Committee?

Under the Act, they shall perform the following:

Conduct awareness-raising programs with school stakeholders in preventing and

addressing bullying;

Ensure that the anti-bullying policy adopted by the School is implemented;

Monitor all cases or incidents related to all reported cases of bullying; and

Make the necessary referrals to appropriate agencies, offices or persons, as may be

required by the circumstances.

5. How does the School treat the information in bullying cases?

Any information relating to the identity and personal circumstances of the bully, victim,
or person who reported or witnessed the incident shall be treated with utmost
confidentiality by the Committee and the School, provided, that the names may only be
available to the School head or administrator, teacher or guidance counselor designated
by the school head, and parents or guardians of students who are or have been victims
of bullying or retaliation.

6. What happens if the School, or its personnel, fails to comply with the Act?

School personnel of public Schools shall be subject to administrative disciplinary

proceedings under the rules of the Civil Service or the Department. Erring personnel of
private Schools shall be subject to appropriate administrative disciplinary proceedings
imposed by the private School. Copies of such decisions shall be submitted by the
private School to the Department’s division office.

Private Schools which fail to comply with the Act and its IRR shall be shall be given
notice of such failure by the Department’s division office. The School shall be given
thirty (30) days within which to comply. A further extension of one (1) month may me be
granted by the Department’s Regional Director in meritorious cases. Failure to comply
with the Act or its IRR may cause the School’s suspension, or revocation of license.

Republic Act No. 10627, otherwise known as the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 is " An act requiring all
elementary and secondary schools to adopt policies to prevent and address the acts of bullying in their
institutions." It was signed by President Benigno Simeon Aquino III on September 12, 2013 and shall take
effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.
 What is anti-bullying law?
Anti-bullying law or Republic Act 10627 is a law that requires elementary and secondary schools to adopt
policies and eliminates harassment and violence done by student or group of students to fellow students.
It requires elementary and secondary schools to address the act of bullying and implement action to
make their institution a student-safe and hostile-free environment.

Bullying as defined by RA No. 10627 refers 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.

It refers to any materially and substantially disrupting the education process or the orderly operation of a
school; such as, but not limited to, the following:

 Physical bullying - punching, pushing, shoving, kicking, slapping, tickling, headlocks, inflicting school
pranks, teasing, fighting and the use of available objects as weapons.

 Emotional bullying - Any act that causes damage to a victim’s psyche and/or emotional well-being;

 Verbal bullying - 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;

 Cyberbullying - any bullying done through the use of technology or any electronic means.

What can the elementary and secondary schools do to prevent future bullying acts?

By the virtue of RA 10627, all elementary and secondary schools are hereby directed to adopt policies to
address the existence of bullying in their respective institutions.

These provisions include:

(a) Prohibition of the following acts:

a. Bullying on school grounds;

b. Bullying at outside the school premises but the act or acts in question create a hostile environment at
school for the victim.

c. Retaliation against a person who reports bullying;

(b) Appropriate disciplinary administrative actions; The perpetrator shall undergo rehabilitation
program and the parents of the perpetrator shall also undergo rehabilitation program.
(c) Clear procedures and strategies:

a. Reporting acts of bullying;

b. Response and investigation

c. Restoring a sense of safety for a victim and assessing the student’s need for protection;

d. Protection from bullying

e. Counselling for the perpetrator and the victim and their respective immediate family members.
 (d) Anonymous report.

(e) Student who makes a false accusation shall subject to disciplinary administrative action;

(f) Education of students on the dynamics of bullying, the anti-bullying policies of the school;

(g) Education of parents and guardians about the dynamics of bullying, anti-bullying policies and
support of said policies.

(h) Maintain a public record of relevant information and statistics on acts of bullying. The names
involved in acts of bullying or retaliation shall be strictly confidential.

All elementary and secondary schools shall provide to the students and the parent the copies of anti-
bullying policies adopted by the school. The DepEd shall provide to the teachers, school employees and
administrators the training programs, seminars, and activities to enhance their knowledge in preventing
bullying in the school.

What are the mechanisms to prevent bullying?

The responsibilities fall upon school principal or any person with a comparable role in the implementation
and oversight of policies.

Who can report the acts of bullying?

Student, the victim, school employee, volunteers, parents.

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. Appropriate disciplinary administrative action;

c. Notification of the parents or guardians of the perpetrator; and

d. Notification of the parents or guardians of the victim.

If an incident of bullying or retaliation involves students from more than one school, the school first
informed of the bullying or retaliation shall promptly notify the appropriate administrator of the other
school so that both may take appropriate action.

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. This shall be an administrative
requirement prior to the operation of new schools. Beginning with the school year after the effectivity of
this Act, and every first week of the start of the school year thereafter, schools shall submit a report to
their respective schools division superintendents all relevant information and statistics on acts of bullying
or retaliation.

Sanction for Noncompliance.

The DepEd Secretary shall prescribe appropriate sanction on school administrators who shall fail to
comply with the requirements. Private schools shall also be faced penalty of suspension of their permits
to operate.