16-under social media ban pushed; review of policies urged

Senator Bong Go, Senate President Win Gatchalian, and Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri (Courtesy: Senate of the Philippines)

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.

Meanwhile, lawmakers and education stakeholders called for a broad review of school safety policies, youth protection measures, social media regulation, mental health interventions, and juvenile justice laws.

These followed the fatal shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City that left three students dead and 21 others injured.

Gatchalian urged stronger parental involvement through the Parent Effectiveness Service Program, which was established under Republic Act No. 11908 to strengthen parents’ and guardians’ capabilities in promoting child protection and positive behavior.

“If we are serious about ending violence in our schools, the solution must begin inside our homes,” Gatchalian said.

The law mandates the implementation of the program in all cities and municipalities, with the Department of Social Welfare and Development tasked with developing educational modules on child development, behavior, and abuse prevention.

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, meanwhile, raised concerns over the influence of harmful social media content on young people and expressed support for the proposed Social Media Safety for Children Act, which seeks to prohibit minors below 16 years old from maintaining social media accounts.

Zubiri noted that countries such as Australia and the United Kingdom have enacted or are considering stricter age-verification requirements and stronger online protections for minors.

He also proposed reviewing the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act to explore the possibility of trying minors as young as 14 as adults when charged with heinous crimes such as murder and rape, while preserving due process and rehabilitation opportunities.

“At the same time, the security issues raised by the Tacloban shooting must be addressed. We need to know how the gun was brought into the campus, what the security gaps are, and what practical safeguards must be put in place so this will never happen again,” Zubiri said.

Go calls for review of laws, policies

Senator Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Youth, likewise called for a comprehensive review of youth-related laws, school safety policies, and student mental health programs.

“Schools are supposed to be zones of peace and learning. It is deeply troubling that our students are exposed to such unnecessary risks instead of being able to focus on their studies. What is even more alarming are reports that the suspects themselves are minors,” Go said.

He urged government agencies to conduct a full investigation into how the minor suspects obtained the weapon used in the attack and appealed to the public to refrain from spreading unverified information.

“I will focus closely on this issue. If there is something that needs to be fixed in current laws, such as the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, as amended, and existing regulations, let us fix it now. Let us not wait for yet another tragedy to happen,” Go said.

Senator Loren Legarda cautioned against attributing the tragedy to a single cause, saying the incident reflects broader and interconnected challenges confronting Filipino children and youth.

“Social media and online games may be part of the story, but they are not the whole story,” Legarda said.

“They must be examined seriously because they can shape behavior, normalize violence, or expose children to harmful communities. But they cannot be the only explanation.”

“The harder question is: what else was happening in this child’s life, what warning signs went unnoticed, and how do we make sure the next child in crisis is met with support before tragedy strikes?”

‘Examine bullying allegations’

Citing studies showing that youth violence is often linked to trauma, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, Legarda said investigators must carefully examine allegations of bullying and determine whether warning signs were overlooked.

“When a child reaches a point where violence becomes imaginable, we must ask what happened long before that moment. Children do not wake up one day disconnected from their peers, overwhelmed by anger, or unable to see alternatives to violence. Those conditions develop over time,” she said.

“If bullying is proven to have played a role, then this tragedy should remind us that bullying is never harmless. What some dismiss as teasing can leave deep wounds that affect a child’s sense of belonging, safety, and self-worth.”

Legarda also emphasized that the minors involved must still be held accountable under the law while ensuring due process and child protection standards.

She said authorities must determine how minors gained access to firearms, noting reports that one of the weapons used may have been government-issued.

“No matter what influenced these young people, this tragedy became deadly because guns found their way into the hands of children. We must determine exactly how that happened and ensure accountability where negligence is found,” she said.

Age verification for violent online games

Legarda added that she is studying a measure requiring age verification for violent and mature-rated online games and reiterated support for her previously filed Children’s Safety in Social Media Act, which would require social media platforms to enforce a minimum user age of 16.

“Digital platforms have responsibilities that extend beyond profit. Child safety must be built into the design, operation, and governance of online spaces. But protection must also respect privacy. Children should not be forced to surrender unnecessary personal data just to be kept safe from harm,” she said.

The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) also called for broader education reforms in the wake of the tragedy.

In a statement, the group said schools should focus not only on academic achievement and workforce preparation but also on character formation, values development, emotional well-being, and responsible citizenship.

“These recent events further remind us that education reform must continue to uphold a holistic view of the learner,” CEAP said.

The association urged the Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education, and other government agencies to prioritize “integral human development” in ongoing policy reforms and called on families and communities to take a more active role in strengthening young people’s values and emotional resilience.

“We reaffirm our commitment to forming men and women for others through faith, reason, and compassion,” CEAP said.

Padilla renews call, proposal called ‘barbaric’

The shooting also reignited debate over the country’s juvenile justice law.

Senator Robinhood Padilla renewed his call to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 10 years old, arguing that recent serious crimes committed by minors demonstrate the need for reform.

“No one is saying that the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act is wrong. But the truth that it has not been effective is right in the face of the public,” Padilla said.

“What happened in Tacloban can already be considered murder. A mass shooting inside a school. Is that the action of a child? We need to face the reality that there are crimes that can no longer be ignored solely in the name of good intentions.”

Padilla said the government must act before another tragedy occurs.

“We cannot wait for the next tragedy before we act. The duty of the government is to protect not only the youth who have lost their way, but also the innocent people who could become their victims. It is time to review and strengthen the law,” he said.

House Deputy Minority Leader Antonio Tinio of ACT Teachers Party-list sharply opposed the proposal, describing it as “barbaric” and contrary to the principles of child protection.

“The proposal to imprison 10-year-olds is barbaric. It represents the ultimate abdication of government responsibility,” Tinio said.

He argued that existing laws already provide mechanisms for addressing offenses committed by minors through diversion programs and rehabilitation facilities such as Bahay Pag-asa.

“Rather than addressing the root causes of youth violence—chronic underfunding, severe shortages of guidance counselors, overcrowded classrooms, and inadequate psychosocial support—this proposal would criminalize vulnerable children instead of providing the care they desperately need,” he said.

Tinio maintained that violence among youth often develops under conditions of poverty, family distress, and inadequate public services and that the focus should be on rehabilitation and social investment rather than incarceration.

“Safe schools require social investment and genuine commitment to youth welfare, not barbaric criminalization of children. Congress must reject this proposal and instead increase education funding, hire more counselors and mental health professionals, and strengthen community support systems,” he said.

— Ram Superable, Joel E. Zurbano, Maricel Cruz & Vito Barcelo