Don’t treat bully with kid gloves

This is in response to former senator R. A. V. Saguisag’s letter, “Questionable timing of Ateneo’s decision” (12/31/18).

Though I agree with Saguisag that the Ateneo bully also deserves some compassion, especially after all the anger that’s been directed at him online, I think our concern and sympathy should go first to the victims and their families. In terms of how and when justice for them should be carried out, not to mention the actual decision itself, the primary consideration should be their feelings as the aggrieved party.

For which reason, I applaud Ateneo as an educational institution for resolving this matter promptly, giving the victims and their families not just some peace of mind and heart,  but also the justice they deserve right before heading into the Christmas and New Year breaks.

Imagine the anger and anxiety they would have continuously felt during the holidays had Ateneo kept mum about it and waited to settle the matter only at the turn of the year.

I also think that, considering the gravity of the bully’s offense, he should be made to feel the impact of his school’s decision, underscored by its very promptness. As many have pointed out, he is in junior high school and, at his age, should already have a clear sense of what is right and wrong. Treating him with kid gloves does not help in teaching him the huge lesson he must learn from all this.

It is my hope that all the boys involved and present in these incidents do not end up becoming embittered, violence-prone human beings.

ROSELYN B. BELEN, [email protected]