Mt. Province probing bully “Muay Thai” martial artist

BAGUIO CITY (April 10, 2025) -- Mountain Province’s capital Bontoc began its probe on a bullying case in front of a church involving a so-called martial artist and two minors.

A video taken on April 8, 2025 that has gone viral showed a 19 year-old male applying his "Muay Thai" skills on a 14 year-old boy and another 16 year-old boy in front of the Sta. Rita Church in Bontoc town.

The 19 year-old boy, who is a Grade-12 student, kicked the two kids on their bodies and head while other kids watched helplessly. The video has gone viral gathering condemnation from netizens including the municipal government of Bontoc.

Bontoc Mayor Jerome "Chagsen" B. Tudlong Jr. said the 19-year old male is already in the custody of the Bontoc police while a formal complaint is being readied.

While the victims will receive counseling by social workers of the Bontoc Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) in collaboration with the Women and Children Protection Desk of the Philippine National Police (WCPD-PNP).

Tudlong added they will also provide technical assistance to the parents of the two minors who were made punching bags.

"As a community, we do not tolerate any form of bullying. I urge everyone to come together to ensure the safety, protection, and well-being of our children and our community as a whole," Tudlong appealed.

The Department of Education (DepEd) has disclosed there have recorded around 80 thousand cases of bullying among students nationwide.



The DepEd though claimed that it has employed broader measures to prevent, report, and respond to abuse in the basic education sector.  Among these is the Child Protection Specialization Course, which aims to equip school personnel with the necessary knowledge, skills, and shift in attitudinal orientation to manage learner protection concerns more effectively.