Hearing about this case just made me worry so much about folks who could be in the same predicament. QC Councilor Alfred Vargas and his wife Yasmine is taking a tough stand after their son has allegedly experienced bullying from a minor while doing swimming activities.
They filed a complaint against the minor's parents at the Office of the City Prosecutor of Manila. The file listed respondents as Juvelle Bacosa, Robert Vincent Sy. This is in violation of Section 10a of RA 7610 commonly known as the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act. According to them, the minor had repeatedly pushed and held the son of the Vargas' while underwater, all during the duration of swimming and training sessions. They have noted repeated incidents, short of drowning, in which the Vargas' communicated, reminded and appealed to stop. Ms. Yasmine in one instance saw the minor engage in inappropriate acts, where she informed the parent but only downplayed and got gaslit by the mother.
Things took a huge turn last February during a competition at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. Several parents saw the minor push their son during warm ups, where two others (friends of the minor) laughed. This has brought their son severe physical and emotional stress. It was the final straw.
According to Vargas, the mother acted as if nothing happened when it was brought to her attention, then posted online misrepresenting the incident. He says "As a Father, there are a few things you can't endure, to see your own son get oppressed. We should have done it sooner, and this is just some of the few things they did to our son. This isn't just child's play, and we simply cannot ignore this."
The complaint also indicated how they both have failed to supervise and discipline the minor, cited how dangerous it is to continue. He adds "We choose to fight back, not for revenge, but to make sure our son gets protected, it is for him and the others who are afraid to speak up!"
Vargas has always been a staunch supporter of protecting the rights of a child. He has discussed this in the QC council, on how parents should be held accountable especially on bullying incidents. He hopes a systemic reporting procedure be done to protect them and their families. He also hopes this inspires those who suffer the same fate.
They filed a complaint against the minor's parents at the Office of the City Prosecutor of Manila. The file listed respondents as Juvelle Bacosa, Robert Vincent Sy. This is in violation of Section 10a of RA 7610 commonly known as the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act. According to them, the minor had repeatedly pushed and held the son of the Vargas' while underwater, all during the duration of swimming and training sessions. They have noted repeated incidents, short of drowning, in which the Vargas' communicated, reminded and appealed to stop. Ms. Yasmine in one instance saw the minor engage in inappropriate acts, where she informed the parent but only downplayed and got gaslit by the mother.
Things took a huge turn last February during a competition at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. Several parents saw the minor push their son during warm ups, where two others (friends of the minor) laughed. This has brought their son severe physical and emotional stress. It was the final straw.
According to Vargas, the mother acted as if nothing happened when it was brought to her attention, then posted online misrepresenting the incident. He says "As a Father, there are a few things you can't endure, to see your own son get oppressed. We should have done it sooner, and this is just some of the few things they did to our son. This isn't just child's play, and we simply cannot ignore this."
The complaint also indicated how they both have failed to supervise and discipline the minor, cited how dangerous it is to continue. He adds "We choose to fight back, not for revenge, but to make sure our son gets protected, it is for him and the others who are afraid to speak up!"
Vargas has always been a staunch supporter of protecting the rights of a child. He has discussed this in the QC council, on how parents should be held accountable especially on bullying incidents. He hopes a systemic reporting procedure be done to protect them and their families. He also hopes this inspires those who suffer the same fate.












