'Talk to your children': Erwin Tulfo appeals to parents, schools, community

Senator Erwin Tulfo made the appeal to parents as the Senate investigated the school shootings in Tacloban and Zamboanga City, saying preventing violence among young people should not be left to schools alone.

For Tulfo, the incidents exposed failures not only in school security but also in the home and the wider community.

“Hindi lang po the school failed, everybody failed. The school, the family, the parents failed. Relatives, the guardians of those children failed,” Tulfo noted.

(It was not only the school that failed. Everybody failed—the school, the family, the parents, relatives and the children’s guardians.)

He said that parents should regularly check on their children even when they appear to be doing well in school or other activities.

“Kahit na po nakikita ho ninyo na very accomplished po 'yung mga anak natin… hindi ibig sabihin dahil accomplished in school, honor roll,” he said.

(Even if we see that our children are very accomplished, it does not mean that because they are doing well in school or are on the honor roll, they are necessarily okay.)

He urged parents to make time for simple conversations with their children.

“Once a week lang, how’s school, anak? I do that to my child. I talk to them, how are you? How’s school? Everything okay?” he said.

(Even just once a week: ‘How’s school, child?’ I do that with my child. I ask them, ‘How are you? How’s school? Everything okay?’)

Tulfo said parents may not immediately see when a child is struggling, adding that children need someone they can talk to when they are facing problems.

“Ang mga kabataan ngayon, they’re so fragile. It is because napapabayaan po natin, we don’t communicate with them because we’re so busy,” he said.

(Young people today are so fragile. It is because we neglect them and do not communicate with them because we are so busy.)

Security lapses

Tulfo also raised possible security lapses in schools, saying reports of threats should be taken seriously and properly reported to authorities.

He suggested that schools should have clearer procedures similar to how authorities respond to threats in other sensitive facilities, including immediately assessing reported threats and informing law enforcement and parents when necessary.

Tulfo also said he is considering filing a bill that would make firearm owners accountable when their guns are used by minors to cause injury or death because the firearms were not properly secured.

He said the proposal could impose liability for homicide through reckless imprudence in such circumstances.

The Senate hearing followed the August 18 shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University, where two students died, including the alleged shooter, while another student was injured.

Tulfo said the incidents should prompt parents, schools and communities to act before another tragedy occurs.

“We have to start acting now before it’s too late,” he said. —AOL, GMA News