Celebrity couple Alfred Vargas and his wife Yasmine have filed a formal complaint against the parents of a minor who allegedly bullied their child during swimming training sessions.
The Vargas family alleges that the parents violated the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act and failed in their legal duty under the Family Code to properly supervise and discipline their child.
In a social media statement, actor and Quezon City councilor Alfred Vargas revealed that the alleged bullying incidents occurred despite repeated efforts to resolve the matter with the parents.
"Every time we go to the parents to try to resolve these issues, we were either dismissed or gaslighted," said Vargas.
One particularly concerning incident reportedly occurred during a February swimming competition when the minor allegedly pushed the Vargas child against the pool edge during warm-up, nearly causing injury. Vargas stated he and other witnesses observed this incident.
The councilor further explained that the minor and two companions laughed at his child, causing "severe fear and emotional distress." According to Vargas, when he reported the incident to the minor's mother, she pretended nothing had happened.
"As a parent, there's one thing you cannot bear: seeing your child being bullied," Vargas emphasized. "This isn't just 'kids being kids.' This isn't something that should be ignored."
"Bullying is not normal. It is not harmless. It is not acceptable. This incident could have been prevented if the child hadn't been neglected by the parents. That's why we've chosen to fight now—not for revenge, but to stand up for my child and for all children who are afraid to speak up."
Actress Yasmien Kurdi, who previously filed a complaint regarding her own daughter Ayesha's bullying experience last year, offered support to the Vargas family on Instagram.
"This is really heartbreaking, but also a wake-up call. I know how this feels, the pain and anxiety for the whole family," Kurdi shared. "It's even more painful when parents are already informed but choose to dismiss or even laugh it off instead of correcting their child. That kind of response only makes things worse."
Kurdi expressed prayers for the Vargas family's strength and emphasized the importance of accountability.
"This is why taking a stand matters! Accountability is the only way it stops," she added. "Every child deserves to feel safe and protected."