Bam Aquino rejects blanket ban on video games after Tacloban shooting

Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aguirre Aquino IV has rejected proposals for a blanket ban on video games following the deadly school shooting in Tacloban City.

Aquino, chairperson of the Senate Committees on Basic Education and Science and Technology, said numerous studies show there is no correlation between video games and incidences of school shootings.

“Magpi-50 years na rin iyong mga video games, pero it's always a convenient scapegoat sa tuwing may nangyayaring insidente ng karahasan,” he said.

(It's nearly 50 years since video games were created but it's always a convenient scapegoat every time a violent incident occurs.)

On Monday, two minors — aged 14 and 15 — opened fire inside the San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, leaving three people dead and 20 others hurt.

Initial police investigation showed one of the suspects was an “avid player” of GoreBox, whose gameplay is known for unrestrained destruction and graphic violence, prompting the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center to suspend the physics-driven sandbox game.

Instead of a blanket ban, Aquino is pushing for the passage of the proposed School Safety Act, which includes the installation of more CCTV cameras, deployment of additional barangay and security personnel, as well as regular Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meetings to discuss school safety concerns and other preventive measures.

“Dahil pang-bata iyan, iyong developers mayroong silang responsibility na ma-monitor, ma-check at ma-ban iyong mga predators o iyong mga tao doon na may masasamang balak,” he added.

(Since these games are meant for children, developers have the responsibility to monitor and ban predators and other unscrupulous individuals.) —RF, GMA News