6 hours ago
1
Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!
Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.
Visit Suniway.ph to learn
Police General Nicolas Torre III, newly installed chief of the Philippine National Police, leads his first flag-raising ceremony on June 9, 2025 at Camp Crame.
PNP via FB
MANILA, Philippines — Incidents of bullying may now be reported through the 911 emergency hotline, the Philippine National Police announced yesterday.
PNP chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III made the statement during a chance interview with reporters while he was inspecting several schools in Quezon City on the first day of classes.
“Bullying can be reported through 911,” Torre said. “Our call takers will refer the reports to the local police stations, and our officers will coordinate directly with school heads.”
This move comes amid intensified efforts to address bullying cases, following international reports branding the Philippines as the “bullying capital of the world.”
Based on the 2018 Program for International Student Assessment, 65 percent of Grade 10 students in the Philippines experienced bullying at least a few times a month – the highest rate among all participating countries.
Torre said the PNP is now working closely with school officials to ensure that these incidents are monitored and acted upon.
The PNP chief also explained that police presence around schools will be intensified, saying it is part of the PNP’s fixed visibility point strategy to prioritize areas with high public activity.
“Our station commanders assess where patrols are most needed,” he said. “Naturally, there are more students and more people on the first day of school, so that’s where we concentrate our personnel.”
Police deployment, Torre added, is expected to shift throughout the day, with officers moving to other locations like business districts once school hours end.
He also warned potential criminals not to take advantage of students, whom he described as vulnerable targets.
“Students are still young and impressionable,” Torre said. “We are warning anyone who plans to exploit them for selfish interests, that will not be tolerated. We all share the same goal: to send our children to school so they can learn properly, not to expose them to harm.”
He called on parents to consider the police as partners in ensuring the safety of students.
“To all parents, the PNP is your partner in keeping your children safe,” Torre said. “You don’t have to go to the police station to reach us, we are already on your phones. Just dial 911, and we’ll be there within five minutes.”
Meanwhile, to further ensure student welfare, President Marcos directed agencies to continue providing the much-needed assistance to schools and to monitor cases of bullying.
As school year 2025–2026 officially opened Monday, Marcos led the ceremonial opening at Epifanio delos Santos Elementary School in Manila, where he interacted with teachers and students.
In his speech, the President said he issued specific directives to various government agencies to promote the safety and well-being of learners and their families. – Bella Cariaso, Mayen Jaymalin
