Ateneo de Manila University has released its official decision with regards to the student who was seen in a video punching another student inside the school’s comfort room.

“After a thorough investigation that included listening to all parties involved, the decision of the administration is to impose the penalty of DISMISSAL on the student caught bullying another student in the comfort room of the school,” mentioned on the memo released by ADMU.

Also, Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin SJ, ADMU president wrote on that official document that they’re continuing the investigation as there are other matters involved in the incident.

From the memo posted by ADMU in their official twitter account:

After a thorough investigation that included listening to all parties involved, the decision of the administration is to impose the penalty of DISMISSAL on the student caught bullying another student in the comfort room of the school. This means that he is no longer allowed to come back to the Ateneo. I have spoken to the parents of both students about this decision and have offered the families continued support to help them overcome this difficult time. We are continuing the investigation as there are other matters involved in the incident.

The Ateneo is very clear on its stand against bullying. There are already policies and processes codified in the Student Handbook, all in accord with existing legislation, but we still need to ensure that these policies and processes as well as the values they promote are internalized by all members of the community. I have thus created a Task Force to conduct a comprehensive study of the current situation, ensure an independent audit of our present measures and systems, and promptly recommend to administration how we can create a safer and bully-free environment. Such an environment shall prevent a culture of silence from harming our students and encourage everyone to speak up against bullying and other forms of misconduct without fear of retaliation or censure. Such an environment will empower our students to become the Ateneans we all desire them to be for others.

We acknowledge that this incident has inflicted widespread and profound pain not only on the persons involved and their families, but on each member of our community as well. We have the power to amplify the pain by simply fanning the flames of hatred and violence, by fighting fire with fire. Our young ones cannot escape all this unscathed. They are the ones most wounded by our violent words and example.

We can summon the courage to stop fighting one another. We have the power too. We can begin by refusing to add fuel to the fire and helping our children and one another heal. As we approach Christmas, we are reminded by the prophet that there is light that shines in the darkness. It is this light of Christmas that can guide us on the journey to becoming a people of peace, held together by our love of one another and our love of the Child in the manger, who is Christ our Lord.

The bullying incident made the social media go frenzy the first time the video got uploaded. Many netizen parents got furious and some even challenged the parent of the bully kid for a fighting match.