A senator is sounding the alarm on a brewing crisis in classrooms and digital spaces following the school shooting in Tacloban City that claimed three young lives and injured 20 students.
Sen. Bam Aquino described the horror of the scene after visiting survivors and grieving families. But beyond the heartbreak, he is now pushing a legislative agenda to protect the Filipino youth.
“Nung nangyari po yung attack noong Lunes, agad-agad ko pong naisip ang aking mga anak at kung ano ang gagawin ko kung sila ang nasa ganoong sitwasyon. Utang po natin sa mga kabataan ang mga ligtas na campus at eskwelahan. Utang din po natin sa mga magulang ang kasiguraduhan na ginagawa ng gobyerno ang lahat para sa kanilang mga anak,” he said.
The senator is now pushing to re-examine the Juvenile Justice Act. He argues that while the law was originally intended to protect vulnerable children from harsh prison environments, the rise of heinous crimes demands a stricter accountability framework.
“Maghahain po tayo ng panukala para suriin at amyendahan ang Juvenile Justice Act. Ang bibigyan-diin po natin ang mga karumal-dumal na krimen gaya ng pagpatay at panggagahasa. On late July, diyan mapag-uusapan ano ba yung mga pwedeng gawin para palakasin, amyendahin or pagbutihin itong Juvenile Justice Law because more and more, lumalabas talaga na merong gaps. Merong gaps. Kailangan ng mga changes and ang magiging debatehan dito is whether the changes can improve the law,” he added.
Furthermore, Aquino is taking a hard line on the digital radicalization of minors backing a legislative proposal to restrict social media access for those under 15. The measure aims to curb the influence of harmful algorithms that can lead children down paths of online radicalization.
“Yung sa mga chat groups at sa social media may radicalization na nangyayari. And ano to radicalization towards extremism radicalization in terms of doing violent things. Yun yung kailangan nating bantayan. Kaya babalik ka most sa social media. Susuportahan din po namin ang mga panukalang nagbabawal sa social media sa mga below 15 years of age. Iyan po yung mga gagawin po sa legislature… para masigurado na hindi na ito mangyayari muli,” he said.
He also reminded parents that the fight for safety doesn’t end in the halls of Congress but rather it starts at home and vigilance of the community.
“Kailangan talaga mabantayan natin yung mga bata… Kailangan may relationship ka sa mga anak mo para mapag-usapan niyo yung mga bagay-bagay at ma-alert mo rin if there’s a potential danger. Hindi lang siya anong gagawin mo kapag may shooter na drill eh. Kailangan yung nadi-drill rin sa atin sa mga magulang,” Aquino said.
As the Senate committee on Basic Education prepares to tackle and expand measures under the proposed “Schools Safety Act” in the coming weeks, Aquino is rallying for parents, educators, and lawmakers to prioritize the safety of our schools, and the protection of the next generation.
