After Tacloban school shooting: Social media ban for minors

CEBU, PHILIPPINES — Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian has pushed for a social media ban for minors, as he expressed concern over the effect of violent online content that may have prompted the two minors in a shooting rampage that killed three students and injured 20 others inside a public high school in Tacloban City last Monday, June 22.

Gatchalian said the incident underscored the urgent need to pass his proposed “Social Media Safety for Children Act,” which seeks to prohibit social media use among children below 16 years old. He warned that excessive exposure to social media and violent online content has made minors more vulnerable to online sexual abuse and exploitation, increased aggressive behavior, and worsened mental health issues.

“Maraming bansa na gumagawa nito, pinakalatest, United Kingdom. Dahil nga yung influence ng social media ay talagang grabe na sa mga bata. At marami tayong mga kabataan, nalululong sa social media, nalululong dito sa mga violent games. At marami na ring pag-aaral na nagsasabi na nakaka-influence ito sa kanilang pag-iisip,” Gatchalian said.

“Kaya mayroong, kung titingnan natin yung cases ng mental health natin sa mga kabataan ngayon ay napakataas.

Maraming nagpapakamatay, maraming pumapasok sa ganitong mga bayolenteng aksyon. At yan din isa sa mga hakbang na personally tinutulak natin para hindi ma-impluwensiyahan yung ating mga kabataan,” he added.

The Senate leader expressed alarm over reports that one of the suspects, a 14-year-old student, had played the online game Gorebox before allegedly participating in the shooting rampage at San Jose National High School.

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center has since ordered the blocking of the game as a precautionary measure to prevent similar incidents.

“Nag-research ako kanina kung ano yung Gorebox. Ito pala ay para siyang social media. Pwede ka makipaglaro sa ibang bata, pero napaka-bayolente. Tinuturuan yung bata uminom, tinuturuan yung bata magsigarilyo, mag-drugs pa. At pwede silang pumatay doon sa games na yun,” Gatchalian said.

“Tingin ko ito rin yung isang dahilan kung bakit mabigat yung impluwensya nitong mga violent games sa ating mga kabataan,” he added.

On proposals to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility, Gatchalian said he remains open to discussing amendments to the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act (JJWA).

Drawing from his experience as mayor of Valenzuela City, he cited the effectiveness of the youth rehabilitation facility Bahay Pag-asa in reforming children in conflict with the law (CICL).

He also rejected claims that minors below 15 years old are automatically released from custody under the law.

“Gusto ko lang idiin na hindi totoo na yung mga batang below 15 ay papakawalan. Sila ay papasok sa Bahay Pag-asa para ma-reporma, magabayan nang mabuti, at mabigyan ng tamang edukasyon, para mareporma yung kanyang hindi magagandang asal,” he said.

Under the JJWA, children aged 15 and below are exempt from criminal liability but are subjected to intervention programs. Minors above 15 may still face prosecution for heinous crimes such as murder and rape if it is proven that they acted with discernment and refuse diversion programs.

Gatchalian emphasized the need to address the root causes of school violence, including strengthening mental health support and campus security through the deployment of more guidance counselors and security personnel.

Bullying seen as trigger

Meanwhile, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla described the Tacloban tragedy as a case of bullying that escalated into violence.

Speaking to reporters at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Wednesday, Remulla said initial findings indicated that the two student suspects had been subjected to bullying.

“Lumalabas sa initial feedback ay bullying gone wrong. Binubully daw ‘yung dalawang estudyanteng at dahil doon ay nainfluence sila sa video games,” he said.

Eastern Visayas police have filed criminal complaints through inquest proceedings against the 15-year-old suspect before the Tacloban prosecutor’s office for three counts of murder, three counts of frustrated murder, and multiple counts of serious physical injuries.

Authorities are still studying the legal options involving the 14-year-old suspect, who investigators said appeared to have been more aggressive during the attack and allegedly fired multiple rounds using his aunt’s Glock 9mm pistol.

The suspect’s aunt, a police officer, has been relieved from her post and is facing administrative and criminal charges for negligence.

Remulla also expressed support for proposals to review the age of criminal liability, noting that criminal syndicates have been exploiting minors for illegal activities.

“Kung mahuli sila, hindi sila puwede icharge so we are going to review with Congress,” he said.

He acknowledged the challenge of enforcing stricter security measures in schools, noting that the Tacloban campus involved in the shooting has a student population of around 2,800.

Duplicate serial numbers on firearms

As the investigation continues, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. revealed that the caliber .38 revolver used in the shooting carries the same serial number as another firearm assigned to a security guard in Bohol.

The weapon was reportedly obtained by one of the suspects from his grandfather, a former security guard employed by a Cebu-based security agency.

“It is now being investigated at malaman natin bakit dalawang baril,” Nartatez said.

Police Colonel Elmer Cinco, chief of the Regional Civil Security Unit (RCSU)-7, disclosed that verification through the Firearms and Explosives Office database showed the serial number belonged to a firearm registered to a Cebu City-based security agency.

However, investigators confirmed that the revolver recovered in Tacloban and the firearm assigned to a security guard in Bohol were not the same weapon.

“The firearm recovered in Tacloban, and the firearm deployed in Bohol are different firearms, but they carry the same serial number,” Cinco said.

RCSU-7 immediately coordinated with RCSU-8, which is leading the investigation. Authorities later recovered the Bohol-issued firearm and subjected it to forensic examination while reviewing deployment records and firearm disposition reports from the security agency.

Investigators have not ruled out the possibility that one of the firearms may have been cloned.

“Possible. It is possible that someone copied the firearm, but we still do not know exactly what happened,” Cinco said.

Authorities are also examining information involving a former security guard, although no direct connection to the shooting has been established.

Both firearms were identified as Armscor caliber .38 revolvers and appeared nearly identical. Initial examinations showed traces of epoxy material near the barrel of the firearm recovered from the crime scene.

Ballistic and forensic tests are ongoing to determine which firearm was used in the shooting and to establish the original registered weapon.

Cinco described the case as unprecedented and said authorities have intensified inspections of licensed security agencies while warning operators of possible license revocation and criminal liability under the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act for any violations.