SP Sherwin Gatchalian renews calls for socmed ban for minors

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday renewed his call for a social media ban for minors aged 16 years old and below following the tragic school shooting incident in Tacloban City.

Gatchalian made the remarks after initial police investigation linked one of the Grade 9 students involved in the shooting to GoreBox, a mobile game application “which allows players to experiment with various weapons and is known for its graphic depictions of violence.”

“Isa sa mga finile ko dito sa Senado ay ma-ban ang social media sa 16 years old and below,” Gatchalian told Super Radyo dzBB.

(One of the bills I filed in the Senate is barring minors aged 16 years old and below in social media.)

“Marami tayong mga kabataan ang nalululong sa social media at violent games, at marami na ring pag-aaral ang nagsasabi na nakakaimpluwensya ito sa kanilang mental health kaya kung titingnan natin ang cases ng mental health natin sa kabataan ay napakataas,” he said.

(A lot of young people are addicted to social media and violent games, and studies showed that it has an influence on their mental health.)

On Monday, two minors — aged 14 and 15 — opened fire inside the San Jose National High School in Barangay San Jose, leaving three people dead and many others injured.

The Police Regional Office 8 (PRO 8) said authorities have filed a criminal complaint against the 15-year-old student involved in the deadly incident. The two child in conflict with the law (CICLs) have also been turned over to the City Social Welfare and Development Office of Tacloban City.

Meanwhile, Gatchalian for the strengthening of child rehabilitation facility Bahay Pag-asa as he denounced disinformation that minors committing crimes will not be held liable for their actions.

“Ang pinakamahalaga dito ay ang Bahay Pag-asa kasi dito dinadala ang CICL at dito sila tinuturuan at nagkakaroon ng intervention. Ang concept dito dahil nga bata sila pag naturuan ng tamang direction at gabay, magiging productive na miyembro sila ng ating bansa,” he added.

(The vital part here is Bahay Pag-asa because this is where CICLs remain for intervention. The concept is that since they are children, they can be reformed into productive members of the society with right guidance.)

Under the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, a child 15 years of age or under at the time of the commission of the offense shall be exempt from criminal liability. However, the child shall be subject to an intervention program.

A child above 15 but below 18 years old shall also be exempt from criminal liability and subjected to an intervention program, unless he or she acted with discernment.

The law states that the child shall then be subjected to the appropriate proceedings in accordance with the act. — RSJ, GMA News