Alleged Bullying Leads Alfred Vargas to File a Legal Complaint
BULLYING — Actor and public official Alfred Vargas and his wife, Yasmine Espiritu, have filed a complaint against the parents of a minor who allegedly bullied and abused their young son. The case, submitted to the Office of the City Prosecutor of Manila on April 13, 2026, cites a violation of Section 10(a) of Republic Act No. 7610, which protects children from abuse, exploitation, and discrimination.
According to their statement, the complaint is based on repeated incidents during swimming training sessions in which the other child reportedly pushed their son and held him underwater multiple times. These actions allegedly continued despite several attempts by the couple to address the issue directly with the child’s parents and ask them to correct their child’s behavior.
The couple also described an incident they found deeply disturbing, in which the child allegedly acted in an inappropriate manner toward their son. When this was brought to the attention of the other child’s mother, it was reportedly dismissed as harmless behavior.
The situation escalated during a swimming competition at Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in February 2026, where Vargas and several witnesses saw the child push their son near the pool, nearly causing injury. After the incident, the couple’s son was reportedly left frightened and emotionally distressed, while others laughed. The parents of the alleged bully were said to have ignored the situation and later posted misleading content online.
Vargas explained that their decision to take legal action came from a desire to protect their child and stand up against bullying. He emphasized that such behavior should not be normalized or ignored. The couple also argued that the other parents failed in their responsibility to properly supervise and discipline their child, which allowed the harmful behavior to continue. They stressed that bullying can cause serious emotional harm, even without physical injury, and should be addressed firmly.
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