PH senators call for stronger campus security after Tacloban school shooting

The fatal shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City has prompted renewed calls from lawmakers for stronger school security and broader child protection measures, as officials look for ways to prevent similar incidents from happening again.

Among those pushing for immediate action is Sen. Raffy Tulfo, who said the attack highlights the urgency of adopting safeguards he has long proposed for schools, including the installation of CCTV cameras, deployment of security personnel and use of metal detectors at campus entrances.

“With the increasing number of violent incidents in schools, many of which involve students themselves, it is high time that this measure be enacted into law,” Tulfo said, referring to his proposed legislation expanding the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013.

Tulfo said concerns about school violence have been part of his legislative agenda since 2025, when he began advocating for mandatory CCTV coverage in classrooms and other areas of school campuses. According to the senator, surveillance systems could help discourage misconduct, support investigations and strengthen efforts against bullying.

He added that he has sought commitments from the Department of Education (DepEd) to improve security infrastructure in schools, including the provision of guards and monitoring systems.

The senator also revealed that Education Secretary Sonny Angara told him the Tacloban school lacked a perimeter fence, enabling the armed students to enter through the back of the campus despite the presence of security personnel. DepEd is now coordinating with local governments on the possible use of Special Education Fund resources for perimeter fencing and metal detectors.

While backing stronger campus security, Sen. Loren Legarda said the incident should not be viewed solely through the lens of physical safety measures.

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

According to Legarda, schools should be equipped not only with security protocols but also with systems that can identify troubled students early, enforce anti-bullying policies and provide counseling and guidance services when needed.

“Our children are growing up in a world that is more connected than ever, but many also feel more isolated than ever,” she said.

She stressed that protecting children is a shared responsibility involving families, schools, communities, government institutions and technology companies. Legarda also said the Tacloban tragedy underscores the need to address issues such as bullying, mental health challenges, online risks and access to firearms alongside traditional security concerns.

“It takes a whole village to protect a child, and we owe it to every Filipino child to build safer, more caring schools, homes, online spaces, and communities,” Legarda said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police said it plans to coordinate with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) to strengthen monitoring of online platforms and video games that may expose minors to violent content.

The move comes as investigators examine a possible connection between the open-world game GoreBox and one of the minors implicated in the Tacloban shooting.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the Anti-Cybercrime Group will lead discussions with the CICC and other agencies as part of the review.

“As law enforcers, we also have the obligation to initiate measures that will protect all our kababayan, particularly minors, from the harmful effects of exposure to online violence. And this is what we intend to do on this matter,” Nartatez said in a statement.

He added that authorities will also study existing research on whether exposure to violent online content may influence the behavior of minors in schools and communities.