Makati school looks into student fight

MANILA, Philippines — A private school in Makati has initiated an investigation into what it described as a “fighting incident” involving Grade 9 students on Monday.

Colegio San Agustin-Makati rector Fr. Dante Bendoy said CSA’s high school department has convened a discipline group to look into the incident, which was captured by a video that has gone viral online.

“This is to assure everyone that the school is taking this matter seriously and has since launched an ongoing investigation,” read the statement.

According to Bendoy, one of their roving guards received a request for assistance around 9:15 a.m. due to an alleged accident in the boys’ restroom.

“The guard who responded found two students who needed medical assistance and were brought immediately to the school clinic. The school has provided the necessary medical assistance to both students,” read the school’s statement.

“The coordinator for campus discipline, safety and security, who also responded, soon found out that the incident was not an accident, but a fighting incident involving Grade 9 students. The school also received attention on videos and photos of the incident circulating on social media platforms,” it added.

Bendoy said the discipline group is in direct communication with the students involved and their parents. 

He urged the public to be mindful of consequences of sharing videos or photos on social media, noting that the incident involves the minor students and may also encourage more acts of violence.

In an interview with One PH on Tuesday, CSA counsel Joseph Noel Estrada said medical assistance has been provided to students who sustained injuries, adding that they are verifying facts about the incident.

He also reiterated their call to the public not to share videos of the incident online.

Meanwhile, Department of Education spokesperson Michael Poa said they have alerted the DepEd regional director and schools division superintendent about the incident.

He noted that DepEd only has reasonable regulation and supervision over private schools such as CSA.