House probe sought into Tacloban shooting, stabbings in 2 Cavite schools

Posted by ReyFort Media

MANILA — A lawmaker has filed a resolution calling for a House inquiry into the school shooting in Tacloban City and into stabbing incidents in two schools in Cavite.

Manila 2nd District Rep. Rolando Valeriano filed House Resolution 1146 for a probe on “strengthening school safety and security measures, enhancing guidance and mental health programs, and improving mechanisms for the prevention of violence among learners.”

He said that recent incidents of violence “have generated widespread public concern regarding the safety and security of students within educational institutions, and the adequacy of existing preventive and intervention measures.” 

He said in his resolution that the House must identify policy gaps and come up with measures to “strengthen school safety, protect learners, improve crisis intervention systems, and prevent future acts of violence in educational institutions nationwide.” 

In a separate statement, Valeriano said the licenses of the owners of the guns used in the Tacloban shooting must be suspended immediately. He also said they should be charged for their “gross negligense and reckless imprudence” as gun owners. 

He also said parents and guardians “are criminally and civilly liable and responsible for the conduct and behavior of the suspects”.

FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-List Rep. Brian Poe, meanwhile, filed House Resolution 1147, also calling for a House inquiry into the implementation of laws and policies on school safety, anti-bullying, learner mental health and well being, emergency preparedness, and child protection in light of the Tacloban City shooting.

“Mayroon tayong mga batas na idinisenyo upang protektahan ang ating mga anak. Ang tanong ngayon ay kung tunay bang naipadama at naipatupad ang mga proteksiyong ito sa mga paaralan kung kailan sila higit na kinakailangan,” the lawmaker said in a statement. 

AGE OF CRIMINAL LIABILITY

Kabataan Party-List Rep. Renee Co and Gabriela Party List Rep. Sarah Elago on Wednesday also rejected proposals to lower the age of criminal responsibility.

“Wala pong simpatya ang ganitong proposal. Ang gusto natin ay ang pag-unlad ng kabataan, hindi ‘yung mas paglulong nila sa mundo at sistema ng karahasan. Hindi po solusyon ang karahasan sa karahasan. Ang solusyon po dito ay pagtigil ng kultura ng impunity, ng karahasan.,” Co said.

She added that the Juvenile Justice and Welfare cannot be dismissed as a bad law since it has not been fully implemented or funded.

“Dapat po may pondo at mas marami ang tinatayong youth rehabilitation centers, at ito po ay capacitated, kaya po niyang i-handle ang mga kabataan sa mga issue nila,” she added.

“Children are not criminals. The Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act recognizes that children in conflict with the law require intervention, rehabilitation, and support—not punishment as if they were fully mature adults,” Elago said in a separate statement.

Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua meanwhiles said “lowering the age of criminal liability is not the answer or the solution to juvenile crimes.”

House Deputy Speaker David “Jayjay” Suarez, for his part, called for the immediate passage of House Bill No. 9825, the Digital Safety of Minors Act, which seeks to establish robust protections in the digital space by mandating age-appropriate mechanisms for users aged 16 to 18.

QC heightens school security protocols after Tacloban school shooting

“Hindi na po natin puwedeng balewalain ang epekto ng harmful content, cyberbullying, online exploitation, at masasamang impluwensya sa kabataan,” Suarez said.

On Tuesday night, Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez paid his respects at the wake services of students killed in the shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City. He offered his condolences to the victims’ families and visited those who were injured in the incident. (V. Gulla/abs-cbn)