Parents of 'victim' kid in Ateneo bullying incident issues statement: 'Our son showed strong moral foundation'

screen-capped image from the viral bullying video and a copy of the statement of the victim's parents (from Google and GMA News)

Few days after the incident, the parents of the victim in a bullying incident in Ateneo have finally issued a statement.

The student showed strong moral foundation when he chose to preserve his self-respect rather than fight back at his fellow student, his parents said on Monday.

"Our son, without his doing, became the poster child for a bullied boy. But rather than remembering him as a victim, we would want you to see him as a young man of good moral foundation." the statement reads

"We want you to see that he is not a loser and that he does not deserve to be pitied; rather, he should be exalted for his sense of dignity and justice beyond his years," it added

The parents stressed that their son would have been subjected to a more cruel treatment had he chose ‘dignity’ over ‘bugbog’.

"Thus, our son chose his true sense of dignity – choosing instead to be subjected to physical assault rather than surrender his self-respect. And that is what we are fighting for. Our dignity," the parents said.

In the said viral video, if ‘dignity’ will be chosen, the bully would have the victim kneel and kiss his shoes and private parts. 

The parents said that they felt outraged when they saw the video, but had to remain silent to ensure their son’s protection as they help him heal from the incident.

"He did not do anything to deserve this kind of treatment from his classmates. But, despite what happened, we will not let this incident damage our son – he will heal from this, and we will ensure that he will grow up with his morality and values intact," their statement said

They also called on the victims of bullying to stand up in keeping their dignity intact and to believe that there will always be justice.

“Let every bully know that there is a God who favors the humble and the weak," they said

"With this I say to all the children who had been bullied, and to all the parents whose child had been pushed against the wall, 'never give up!' Let your voices be heard. Let us not give up the very essence of our being. Our dignity," the statement added

Source: GMA News