Fact Check: Facebook Post Claiming Financial Compensation for Bullying Victims FAKE NEWS

An online post circulating on Facebook recently is claiming that victims of bullying can be financially compensated thanks to RA 10627. The post specifically tells people who were fatshamed can demand Php15,000 from those who bullied them—a news that can make bullied students in and out Manila a few thousand peso richer today.

However, it’s all fake news. Here’s why.

What is RA 10627

RA 10627 is the “Act Requiring All Elementary and Secondary Schools to Adopt Policies to Prevent and Address the Acts of Bullying in their Institutions”. Also known as the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013, it aims to protect children and their parents, providing legal remedies with the help of the law.

With the implementation of the said law, students can now anonymously report cases of bullying that they experience in school. If the report will be to found true, the law states that bullies must be penalized depending on the extent of their acts.

Why the Claim is Fake News

It’s true that the law penalizes bullies if found guilty. However, the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 does not contain in any of its provision the financial compensation the post is claiming, making it a fake news.

Instead, bullies may face disciplinary administrative actions ranging from written warnings to expulsion from schools in and out Manila. Today, school administrators have the power to report to law enforcement agencies should they deem the act of bullying is considered a crime. With this, bullies may face criminal charges in place of getting financial compensation from them.

No Compensation for Bullying

Got bullied yourself? No, you are not entitled to get financial compensation if someone fatshamed you. It’s not part of the the country’s Anti-Bullying Act. However, you can report the bully to school officials and get your bullies penalized instead. All the more reason to not keep the bullying experience to yourself. 

Don’t let fake news fool you today. Always check for legit Manila news sources to keep yourself updated, and stay tuned as we bust out more fake news busting here.