Content Warning: The following article mentions bullying.
Another celebrity parent has taken legal action against bullying, as actor-politician Alfred Vargas and his wife Yasmine Vargas filed a criminal complaint against the parents of their son’s alleged bully.
In a post shared on his social media pages, Alfred said he and his wife are taking “a firm stand against the culture of silence in bullying.”
According to the statement, the couple filed a complaint at the Office of the City Prosecutor of Manila for violation of the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act. The case was made against the parents of a child who allegedly bullied and abused their son during swimming activities.
Based on the allegations, the couple claimed that this complaint was based on the alleged bully repeatedly pushing and holding their son underwater during training sessions. They added that these incidents continued despite their repeated efforts to raise concerns and appeal to the other child’s parents.
“Mayroon pa ngang ginawa yung bully na hindi talaga appropriate at sobrang sakit sa kalooban namin. Kinadyot niya yung anak ko sa malaswang paraan at nung nakita ng misis ko at sinabi sa nanay, tinawanan pa ng nanay at sinabi, ‘He’s just dancing!’” Alfred said.
“Every time we go to the parents to try to resolve these issues, we were either dismissed or gaslighted.”
The couple also recounted an incident during a swimming competition last February, where the alleged bully pushed their son near the side of the pool, nearly causing injury before the event. Despite witnesses, they claimed the child’s mother dismissed the situation and later posted misrepresented content online regarding the incidents.
“Bilang ama, may isang bagay na hindi mo kayang tiisin: ang makita ang anak mo na inaapi,” Alfred said. “The only regret we have is we didn’t do it sooner. Ilan lang ang mga ito sa marami pang ginawa sa anak ko. Hindi ito simpleng ‘away ng bata.’ Hindi ito bagay na dapat palampasin.”
“Bullying is not normal. It is not harmless. It is not acceptable. Maaari sanang maiwasan ang insidente na ito kung hindi napabayaan ang bata ng magulang. Kaya ngayon, pinili naming lumaban. Hindi para maghiganti kundi para manindigan para sa anak ko at para sa lahat ng batang natatakot magsalita,” Alfred stated.
He ended his message with a call to action: “Kung ikaw ay naging biktima ng bullying, o magulang na dumaan dito, alam kong hindi ito madali. Pero hindi tayo pwedeng manatiling tahimik. This is where it stops.”
Alfred is the latest celebrity parent to speak out against bullying. Just last week, Kapuso actress Yasmien Kurdi filed a complaint with the Department of Education following a bullying incident involving her daughter, Ayesha.
Showing support to Alfred and his family, Yasmien commented, “This is really heartbreaking, but also a wake-up call. I know how this feels 🥺 the pain and anxiety for the whole family.”
“We’ve been through it, and it’s not easy seeing your child go through that. What’s hard is that bullying doesn’t just happen once. It builds up over time. From being singled out, to anxiety, to feeling unsafe, it really affects them deeply.”
The actress also emphasized how difficult it is when parents of alleged bullies dismiss such incidents.
“This is why taking a stand matters. Accountability is the only way it stops. Praying for your family. Stay strong Vargas Family🙏🏻 Every child deserves to feel safe and protected,” she added.
As of this writing, the parents of the alleged bully have yet to release a statement.