Pedestrian Observer GB: Assumption College Alumni Letter Campaign against Bullying and Gun Poking at CSA

AC Batch ‘83

27 September 2012

Fr. Horacio R. Rodriguez:

Colegio de San Agustin

Dasmarinas Village, Makati

Dear Fr. Horacio R. Rodriguez:

We write in support of our fellow alumna, Mrs. Toni Gonzalez-Garcia, and as concerned parents. We are disturbed by the reported gun-pointing by Allan Bantilles as a threat to Jamie Garcia, in the presence of some of your faculty members.

The act of gun pointing by a parent to threaten a student is a most reprehensible form of bullying that should not be tolerated by any decent human society, much less by your school. You have always represented yourselves as an upstanding Catholic institution that prides itself in honing your students' Christian morals and ethics. This unfortunate incident is an opportunity for you to prove through action what you have represented in words.

We understand your school's response to the incident is merely to ban Mr. Bantilles from your school campus. Please ask yourselves: Does this show an adequately strong message to your students and to the CSA community in terms of the values and ethics you wish to promote?

We believe it does not. We believe you should send a much stronger statement, especially to your student body, that this behavior is NOT tolerated by your school. We believe that you should declare in a public assembly of students and parents that this behavior is reprehensible and will not be tolerated. In addition, we urge you to demand a public apology to be made by Mr. Bantilles to Jamie Garcia. We also urge your office to call on all the faculty and student witnesses to stand up and tell the truth.

We express our concern over this serious breach of your school's security. How can anyone bring a gun into your campus? Has an investigation of your security personnel and procedures been done? If so, what steps have you taken to hold those responsible for the breach, and what steps are you taking to tighten your security controls?

We urge you to re-examine your rules against bullying, and strengthen your sanctions against this offense. Bringing firearms or instruments of violence on campus should be punishable by, at a minimum, exclusion of the student connected with the offending party.

We understand that you need to go through due process to be legally compliant and to be fair to all parties involved. However, given the gravity of the offense and the presence of witnesses which makes the offense undeniable, we urge you to speedily impose a strong, non-compromising punishment and public statement.

We hope you heed our recommendations and take action as soon as possible.

Thank you for your attention.

Very truly yours,

Assumption High School Class of 1983

The signatures that follow are of those who support this call to action, including the Assumption High School Class of 1983, fellow Assumption Alumnae, family and friends.

Verna Villanueva
Mardi Mapa-Suplido
Maite P. Gallego
Tokie Tantoco-Enriquez
Gina Gamboa-Pimentel
Ana de Villa - Singson
Queenie Conde-Crisostomo
Reena Rodrigo
Angela Navato-Javier
Rissa Sanchez-Murga
Deeda Garcia
Candy Agcaoili-Orena
Nina Peralta-Garcia
Nikki Lacson-Leviste
Ellen Q. Leron
Judy Roman-Antonio
Gigi Orosa-Villareal
Leah Martelino-Huang
Teresa Goduco
Gina Quirino
Myrene Villanueva
Trixie Cordon-Mutuc
Aileen Fabro
Maricen Jalandoni
Veronica Polintan-Solis
Anna Periquet
Analen Rualo-Reyes
Candy Agcaoili-Orena
Jet Ocampo
Desi Catibayan-Mendoza
Yella Dabao-Avelino
Kathy S. Litton
Bea Lopez-Puno
Marilen Dimayuga
Angela C. Ylagan
Cynthia Villanueva-Gloger
Dina Pronstroller
Tina Abad-Mendoza
Aggie Gayoso-Artadi
Jowee Orense
Liz Jalandoni
Gia Ocampo-Chuatico
Anna Hechanova-Lu
Joy Ledesma-Lagdameo
Corcor Dizon-Bitong
Gladys Lee
Lia Pison – dela Cruz
Ma. Rosario Garcia-Berutto
Rhodora Cortez-Ayento
Udsie Rosario-Villarica
Gina Yambao-Martinez
Monique Daez
Rina Vargas-Malig
Nini Barrera-Aquino
Fides Madrid
Dina Bellosillo-Reyes
Chubby Lopa
Jewel Garcia
Aileen Villamor-Fabro
Annie Colayco
Adeline Aguilar-Belizario
Monique Trinidad
Liza Casas-Garrido
Abigail Limqueco-Chan
Bea Beduya-Villegas
Maryrose Juico-Romualdez
Gia Ferry-Lipa
Sylvie Mendoza
Kathy Cabiles-Tamara
Lyn Dizon Agustin
Cynthia Uichangco-Abola
Paula Celdran-Santos
Claudette Gonzalez-Klein
Tessa Mendoza-Daza
Cathy Pujol-Azores
Imee Garcia
Claudette A. Cordon, ACHS '81
Carmela Yutuc-Santos, ACHS '78
Terry Vistan, ACHS 78
Tony Tamara
Monique P. Gallego
Paul A. Zaldarriaga
My Rizal Movement
Peaches Luciano-Jimenez, AC '81
Meg Soriano-Roque, AC '81
Josie Gempesaw – Barcia, AC '81
Patricia Jimenez, AC 2009
Rommel Bernardo
Maureen Cordon-Delingon
Arleen Sevilla-Agustin

It appears that bullying has long been Collegio San Agustin's problem and just like the case of Jamie they failed in resolving the issues as shown in this video of a bullying victim's father interviewed by Ces Drillon.

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