THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday said it is looking into the possibility of establishing help desks for bullying-related complaints in support of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) efforts to ensure the safety and welfare of learners.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. acknowledged that bullying requires immediate intervention to prevent it from escalating into more serious offenses or crimes.He said the move is part of the PNP’s support system to the DepEd, which has been initiating measures to ensure the protection of all learners, including the mandatory inspection of bags and the creation of the post of school counselor.Nartatez said this could be reinforced with the help desks through personnel from the Women and Children Protection Desk, which is active in every police station.Nartatez assured the public that the PNP would actively participate in efforts to combat bullying, particularly in schools, “we will strengthen our anti-bullying campaign through close coordination with other concerned agencies and offices.”A series of alarming incidents of school violence involving minors have hogged headlines lately with the school shooting in Tacloban being the worst as shooters, 14 and 15 years old, went on a shooting spree killing three and injuring 20.
