Senate Committee on Basic Education Chairman Senator Bam Aquino vowed to prioritize the passage of the School Safety Act in the Senate following the deadly school shooting in Tacloban City that left three students dead and more than 20 others injured.
In a video statement released, Aquino described the tragedy as a heartbreaking incident that demands both justice for the victims and stronger measures to ensure that similar attacks never happen again.
"Mga kababayan, isang insidente ng pamamaril sa Tacloban City ang nagresulta sa pagkamatay ng tatlong estudyante at pagkasugat [ng] mahigit dalawampung bata. Sa amin pong pagkakaalam, ang mass shooting na ito ang pinakauna sa kasaysayan ng ating lipunan," Aquino said.
The senator said he visited the families of the victims and several injured students in the hospital on Wednesday, where he heard firsthand accounts of the tragedy and the families' appeals for accountability and reforms.
"Kinuwento po doon at dinetalye ang mga masasamang nangyari noong nakaraang Lunes. At klaro po na meron silang dalawang bagay na hinihiling. Unang-una, hustisya para sa mga biktima. At pangalawa, na hindi na ito maulit muli," he said.
In response, Aquino announced that the Senate Committee on Basic Education would make the proposed School Safety Act one of its top legislative priorities.
Originally crafted as an anti-bullying measure, Aquino said the bill will now be expanded to include provisions on student safety during team-building activities and out-of-campus events, as well as stronger security measures in schools.
"Nagsimula po ito bilang panukala laban sa bullying, pero isasama na rin po namin ang mga probisyon ukol sa kaligtasan ng mga mag-aaral sa mga team building and out-of-campus activities at siyempre, mga panukalang magpapatibay sa seguridad ng ating mga paaralan," Aquino explained.
Among the proposed measures are the establishment of a school safety hotline and alert system, the installation of more CCTV cameras, and the increased presence of police officers, security guards, and barangay tanods in and around schools.
Aquino also announced plans to file a measure seeking a review and amendment of the Juvenile Justice Act, with particular focus on addressing heinous crimes such as murder and rape.
In addition, he expressed support for proposals that would prohibit children below 15 years old from using social media.
Reflecting on the attack, Aquino said he immediately thought of his own children and the fear that parents experience whenever incidents of violence occur in schools.
"Nung nangyari po yung attack noong Lunes, agad-agad ko pong naisip ang aking mga anak at kung ano ang gagawin ko kung sila ang nasa ganoong sitwasyon," he said.
Aquino stressed that the government has a responsibility to provide safe campuses and learning environments for all students and to assure parents that every possible measure is being taken to protect their children.
"Utang po natin sa mga kabataan ang mga ligtas na campus at eskwelahan. Utang din po natin sa mga magulang ang kasiguraduhan na ginagawa ng gobyerno ang lahat para ligtas ang kanilang mga anak sa mga paaralan. Dahil po sa mga pangyayari noong Lunes, ang mga buhay ng mga bata, mga pamilya at komunidad ay niyurakan," Aquino said.
The senator said the proposed reforms aim to strengthen school security, improve emergency preparedness, and help prevent future acts of violence in educational institutions across the country.
