Charles Teves
Netizens expressed concern over Sen. Robin Padilla’s remark that minor physical bullying is “easier to handle” than “mental torture”.
Padilla made this statement while discussing the government’s anti-bullying initiatives in the ongoing hearing of the Senate Committee on Basic Education on Monday.
“Yun po sigurong physical bullying, para po sa akin ano, kayang i-handle yun. Ang hindi po kayang i-handle ay yung mental [bullying] kasi yun po ang mabigat para sa akin ngayon, yun po ang nararanasan ng mga kabataan, yung mental torture,” he said.
“Yung mental na bullying siguro po yun po ang dapat nating harapin at kung ano man po siguro, yung physical bullying kapag umabot siguro na gusto ka nang patayin,” he added.
“Pero yung kadyot-kadyot lang dyan, ok lang yun,” Padilla furthered.
The former action star also asserted that physical bullying has been beneficial to him in life.
“Yung physical torture—sorry po ah pero para sa akin, nakatulong pa sa akin para maging—hindi naman po sa usapin lamang na humarap sa buhay palagay ko mga 20%, 30% nakatulong pa yun,” Padilla said.
His remarks on bullying caused concern among social media users, who stated that bullying, regardless of its type and severity, should never be accepted.
Lahat ng klase ng pambubully ay hindi ok. Maraming tao ang nakakaranas ng depresyon at tumataas ang case ng suicide dahil dito. It's never ok. https://t.co/BFxPKJADSu
— Aljon Mendoza (@AljonMendoza_) February 13, 2023
Dear @senatePH : please tell your members to stop saying things irresponsibly. https://t.co/5aU9n5gYQY
— Ma'amSyj🇵🇭 (@MaamSyj) February 13, 2023
The 1987 Philippine Constitution prohibits torture.
Common sense also says so.#HumanRights https://t.co/O7w7KzSIln
— Jesus Falcis 🇵🇭 (@jesusfalcis) February 13, 2023
Sayang lang ang pinapasweldo ng taong bayad sa isang bobong Senador Robin Padilla,sana lang hindi maranasan ng mga anak mo ang ma-,bully.
— Prime Selen🇵🇭 (@primaselena1900) February 14, 2023
Yong showbiz fake news and publicities to bully the fans; what kind of bullying Naman yon Sen Robin Padilla @robinpadilla23
— Pastawizca (@pastawizca) February 13, 2023
A study conducted by the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development revealed that six out of ten Filipino students have been bullied at school.
Additionally, PISA noted that bullying has a negative impact on a student’s academic achievements. The study showed that students who were subjected to bullying scored 56 points lower in reading comprehension than those who experienced it less or not at all.
