Senator Aquino pushes for tougher school security measures after Tacloban shooting

Senator Bam Aquino said the Senate Committee on Basic Education will give priority to the passage of his proposed School Safety Act following a series of violent incidents involving students, including the deadly shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City.

Originally crafted to address bullying, the proposed measure has since been expanded to include broader campus security provisions after the Tacloban shooting, a stabbing incident outside a high school in Negros Occidental, and other recent acts of violence involving students.

Aquino visited Tacloban City on Wednesday to extend his condolences to the families of the three students killed in the shooting and to check on the condition and immediate needs of those who survived the attack.

During his meetings with the victims' families, the senator pledged to pursue legislation aimed at preventing similar incidents and improving safety in schools nationwide.

“Gagawin natin prayoridad ng Committee on Basic Education ang pagpasa ng ating School Safety Act. Nagsimula ito bilang panukala laban sa bullying, pero isasama na rin namin ang mga probisyon ukol sa kaligtasan ng mga mag-aaral sa mga team-building and out-of-campus activities,” Aquino said.

“Ipapasok din natin ang mga panukalang magpapatibay sa seguridad ng ating mga paaralan, gaya ng pagkakaroon ng School Safety Hotline at Alert system, pagpaparami ng CCTV at increased presence ng mga pulis, security guard, at barangay tanod,” he added.

Apart from strengthening school security, Aquino said he will also introduce a measure to review and amend the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, with particular focus on provisions involving minors accused of committing heinous crimes.

“Maghahain po tayo ng panukala para suriin at amyendahan ang Juvenile Justice Act. Bibigyang diin po natin ang mga karumal-dumal na krimen gaya ng pagpatay at panggagahasa,” he said.

The senator also backed proposals to restrict access to social media for children below 15 years old, saying young users should be protected from exposure to harmful online content.

Aquino likewise filed Senate Resolution No. 469, seeking an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the Tacloban school shooting to identify measures that would strengthen campus security and prevent firearms and other deadly weapons from entering or being used near educational institutions.

He emphasized that ensuring students' safety requires coordinated efforts from both government and the private sector, stressing that schools must remain places where children can study without fear.

“Utang natin sa ating mga kabataan ang mga ligtas na campus at eskwelahan. Utang din natin sa mga magulang ang kasiguraduhan na ginagawa ng gobyerno ang lahat para ligtas ang kanilang mga anak sa mga paaralan,” the senator said.

“Para magsimula ang paghilom, kailangan makamit ang hustisya at magsama-sama tayong kumilos para hindi na ito mangyari muli,” he added.

While in Tacloban City, Aquino said he also received information about another planned school attack, which he immediately relayed to Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla.

According to the senator, the information enabled authorities to take steps that prevented the alleged plot from being carried out.