MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) said on Tuesday it widened its crackdown on campus bullying, physical assault, and threats with strict penalties.
"We want to give our learners a chance to change, but we will never compromise the safety of the majority," DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said in Filipino in a statement.
From the department's statement, the penalties included "non-readmission, immediate exclusion, and mandatory referral to law enforcement or social welfare authorities, for learners who commit severe offenses."
The DepEd clarified that "non-readmission bars an offender from re-enrolling for the following academic year while allowing them to finish the current year, whereas exclusion immediately drops the learner from the school's active rolls with learning continuity maintained only through alternative educational interventions."
DepEd Order 006 of 2026 contained the Guidelines on Ensuring a Safe and Motivating Learning Environment.
"Under the policy, severe offenses will trigger immediate inter-agency action. Grounded in a whole-of-society framework, the guidelines mandate direct coordination between school administrations, the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), LGUs, and communities to address safety threats both on-site and online," the DepEd said.
LGUs stand for local government units.
"When a bullying incident or safety threat is reported, the school's Child Protection Committee must immediately investigate, ensure the victim's safety, and provide mental health and psychosocial support to affected learners. The policy enforces a progressive disciplinary framework depending on the severity of the offense," the DepEd said.
"First-level or minor infractions incur a written reprimand, parental notification, and guidance counseling. Second-level or serious offenses such as repeated bullying and online harassment result in an immediate suspension of up to five days and mandatory DSWD referral, escalating to non-readmission on the second offense, and full exclusion on the third," the DepEd said.
"Third-level or high-risk acts involving severe physical harm, making bomb threats or dangerous hoaxes trigger non-readmission on the first offense, permanent exclusion on the second, and immediate turnover to law enforcement authorities," it said.
The school head is allowed to issue a 30-day preventive suspension during an investigation if a learner poses a school safety risk.
"For a bullying incident, the process is more streamlined. For precursors to bullying, teachers handle and resolve the matter directly," the DepEd said.
It said thar for second-level offenses "that cause harm to other learners and stakeholders, the Learner Formation Officer intervenes and provides recommendations to the school head, as the case may be."
The school head resolves third-level offenses and imposes the proper sanction.
"At all levels, the parents of the learner-offender are informed," the DepEd said.
Beyond administrative sanctions, the department stressed that "referral to external authorities exposes offenders to potential criminal liability or custody interventions depending on the offense."
