MANILA, Philippines —Quezon City Councilor Alfred Vargas and his wife, Yasmine, filed a criminal complaint on Monday against the parents of a minor who allegedly bullied and abused their son during swimming activities.
The complaint, filed before the Office of the City Prosecutor of Manila, names respondents Juvelle Bacosa and Robert Vincent Sy for violation of Section 10(a) of Republic Act No. 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
The legal action stems from a pattern of behavior in which the respondents’ minor child repeatedly pushed and held the Vargases’ son underwater during swimming training sessions.
These bullying incidents, involving attempts to drown the Vargas couple’s child, occurred several times despite efforts, reminders, and appeals made by the Vargases to the bully’s parents to instruct their child to stop and to manage the minor’s conduct.
“There was even something the bully did that was completely inappropriate and deeply painful for us. He poked my child in a sexual manner, and when my wife saw it and told the mother, she just laughed and said, ‘He’s just dancing!’” Vargas said.
“Every time we went to the parents to try to resolve these issues, we were either dismissed or gaslighted,” he added.
The situation reached a breaking point during a swimming competition at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex last February.
During the event, Vargas and several others personally witnessed the minor pushing his child at the side of the pool during the warm-up period, nearly injuring his son just before the competition.
After the near-injury, two of the bully’s friends laughed at his son as he was left on the ground, causing the child severe fear and emotional distress.
Vargas further recounted how the bully’s mother shrugged off the incident and pretended nothing had happened when he brought it to her attention.
Adding insult to injury, the mother allegedly began posting misleading content online and has not stopped.
“As a father, there is one thing you cannot bear: seeing your child being abused,” Vargas said in a statement.
“The only regret we have is that we didn’t act sooner,” he added.
“These are only some of the many things done to my child. This is not just a ‘kids’ quarrel.’ This is not something that should be ignored,” he added.
In the complaint, the Vargas couple emphasized that the respondents failed in their legal duty under the Family Code to supervise and discipline their child.
Despite having actual knowledge of prior similar incidents during swimming sessions, the parents allegedly failed to take effective measures to prevent the recurrence of the dangerous behavior.
This negligence enabled acts prejudicial to the welfare of the Vargas child, which constitutes child abuse under Section 10(a) of RA 7610. The law penalizes acts that cause psychological or emotional suffering, even in the absence of physical injury, as supported by established jurisprudence.
“Bullying is not normal. It is not harmless. It is not acceptable. This incident could have been avoided if the child had not been neglected by the parents. That is why we have chosen to fight—not for revenge, but to stand up for my child and for all children who are afraid to speak,” Vargas said.
A staunch advocate for child protection, Vargas has previously urged the Quezon City Council to address parental accountability in bullying cases. He has also expressed support for national measures to strengthen anti-bullying policies and reporting systems in schools.
By filing this case, the lawmaker hopes to serve as an example for families who suffer in silence.
“If you have been a victim of bullying, or a parent who has gone through this, I know it’s not easy. But we cannot remain silent. This is where it stops,” Vargas said.
