House probe on Tacloban school shooting sought

Lawmakers have sought an investigation in aid of legislation into the recent incidents of violence in schools such as the deadly shooting in Tacloban City and stabbing cases in Cavite.

House Deputy Minority Leader Antonio Tinio of ACT Teachers party-list, House public order and safety chairperson Rolando Valeriano of Manila, House Assistant Minority Leader Chel Diokno of Akbayan party-list, Navotas Representative Tobias Tiangco, among others, made the call in separate House Resolutions filed this week.

In House Resolution 1146, Valeriano pushed for a congressional probe "with the end in view of strengthening school safety and security measures, enhancing guidance and mental health programs, and improving mechanisms for the prevention of violence among learners."

He said such incidents underscore the need to review existing laws, regulations, and policies on anti-bullying measures, learner protection programs, guidance and counseling services, mental health interventions, threat assessment mechanisms, school security protocols and coordination between educational institutions and law enforcement agencies.

"There is a need to determine whether current policies adequately equip schools to identify and respond to warning signs of violence, behavioral risks, bullying, harassment, intimidation, and other factors that may contribute to harm among learners," the resolution said.

It added: "An investigation in aid of legislation is necessary to identify policy gaps and formulate responsive measures that will strengthen school safety, protect learners, improve crisis intervention systems, and prevent future acts of violence in educational institutions nationwide."

Valeriano’s measure cited the June 22 shooting incident at a school in Tacloban City by two minor-aged shooters who killed three students and injured 20 others. The police earlier reported that the 14-year-old shooter, who fired as many as 33 gunshots, had a troubled family home.

Before this, a Grade 8 learner allegedly entered a Grade 5 classroom at a private school in General Trias City, Cavite on June 16 and stabbed seven learners.

A few days later on June 20, a Grade 11 learner allegedly stabbed a schoolmate following a confrontation inside the premises of a public high school in Cavite City.

“Congress must determine where our schools, local governments, and national agencies are falling short, and what legislative reforms are needed to strengthen campus security, guidance services, mental health programs, and violence prevention measures before more students and teachers are harmed,” Valeriano said in a statement.

Diokno's resolution, meanwhile, was filed with Akbayan lawmakers Dadal Ismulla, Percival Cendaña and Dinagat Representative Kaka Bag-ao.

It said the Tacloban incident highlights the need to evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of Republic Act (RA) 10627, or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, otherwise known as the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013. It also seeks to assess RA 11036 or the Mental Health Act, RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, and other related laws and regulations that were intended to protect minors.

"We need to assess the adequacy of existing school security protocols, behavioral threat assessment systems, psychosocial interventions, guidance and counseling services, child protection mechanisms, and coordination among educational institutions, local government units, law enforcement agencies, and mental health professionals,” the resolution said.

On Tuesday, Senator Risa Hontiveros said the Senate will launch an investigation into the fatal school shooting in Tacloban City on July 1.

Hontiveros said the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, which she chairs, will lead the inquiry, focusing on the incident as well as the growing threat of online radicalization among children.

For his part, Tinio stressed the need to provide mental health services to students, especially those linked to violent incidents in schools.

"Karumal dumal ito (This is gruesome). We want to conduct an investigation, especially on the issue of providing mental health services to the students because this is provided under the law, Republic Act 12080. This law ensures that mental health services are provided to students, teachers and other personnel in basic education,” Tinio told reporters.

He stressed that Republic Act 12080 was enacted as early as 2024, but clarity is needed on how

“2024 pa ang batas na ito. Kailangan natin alam ang status ng pagpapatupad nito dahil malinaw na isa ito sa mga factors sa shooting incident [na nangyari]: ang pangangailangan ng mental health services ng mga estudyante," Tinio added.

Tiangco, meanwhile, said the deaths of young students should never happen again.

"The deaths of these young students are a tragedy that should never happen again. We owe it to the victims and their families to find out what went wrong and ensure that our schools remain safe places for our children," Tiangco said.

Also on Thursday, Tinio said that lowering the age of criminal liability from 15 to 10 years old will unduly punish children for the sins of the adults.

"This proposal to lower it to as much as 10 years old is barbaric. What we need is the proper enforcement of the current law, the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act. Being below 15 years does not mean zero liability," Tinio said.

"For under 15, the law provides to proper intervention for the child, including the child in conflict with the law’s commitment to a Department of Social Welfare and Development facility for proper evaluation," Tinio added.

Valeriano, for his part, said owners of the guns used in the Tacloban school shooting "must be immediately suspended and charged with gross negligence and reckless imprudence in gun ownership resulting in homicide and serious physical injuries." — with a report from Llanesca T. Panti/ JMA/ VDV, GMA News