The Philippines maintains one of the highest minimum ages of criminal responsibility in Asia at 15 years old, under existing law and in line with international child rights standards.
Under Republic Act No. 9344, or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, children aged 15 and below at the time an offense is committed are exempt from criminal liability and are instead placed under intervention programs.
Children above 15 but below 18 may only be held criminally liable if proven to have acted with discernment.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara has ordered a review of learner protection mechanisms in schools following the deadly shooting incident in Tacloban City, saying the tragedy highlights the need for stronger systems to identify and support at-risk learners before problems escalate.
“The tragedy in Tacloban is a painful reminder that learner protection requires constant vigilance and shared commitment. While investigations will establish the facts surrounding this incident, we must also ask what more can be done to better support our learners and strengthen protective systems around them,” Angara said in a statement issued Wednesday.
“This is a conversation that must involve not only schools, but families, communities, local governments, and all institutions entrusted with the welfare of children,” he added.
Ipinamalas ng nasawing si Chris Lorenz Fabian ang diwa ng pagiging Boy Scout nang harangan niya ang pinto upang pigilan ang pagpasok ng mga salarin sa gitna ng walang habas na pamamaril ng dalawang estudyante sa San Jose National High School sa Tacloban City.
Sa ulat ni Emil Sumangil sa Unang Balita nitong Miyerkoles, mapapanood ang viral video ng 15-anyos na Grade 10 student na si Chris habang lumalapit sa pinto upang harangan ito habang namamaril ang kaniyang mga kaeskuwela.
Ilang saglit pa, tinamaan na ng bala si Chris.
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) said it has reached out to the developers of a violent online game that might have a possible connection with the deadly shooting incident at the San Jose National High School in Tacloban City.
Speaking on Unang Balita on Wednesday, CICC Executive Director and Undersecretary Alexander “Aboy” Paraiso said the agency is reviewing the safety features and content of Gorebox, a gaming app developed by F2 Games following reports that one of the students involved in the shooting allegedly played the game extensively.
Installing Closed Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV) in classrooms should be considered amid recent incidents of school violence, including the deadly Tacloban shooting incident, Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo said Wednesday.
“This is really about evidence. We talk about protecting students, and teachers. I would say maybe it is about time we discuss installing CCTV in the classrooms because these [footages] will be the best evidence,” Romulo said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB interview.
“This should be discussed for the benefit of all stakeholders,” he added.
In the same interview, Romulo also said that the 2026 national budget already provide for the deployment of 10,000 guidance counselor associates in schools to ensure a healthy and safe environment.
Mga Kapuso, nakakalungkot po ang sunod-sunod na mga insidente ng karahasan sa loob ng paaralan.
Noong nakaraang linggo, dalawang magkahiwalay na insidente ng pag-atake gamit ang patalim ang naiulat sa Cavite City at sa General Trias, Cavite.
At nito nga lang Lunes, tatlo po ang nasawi habang nasa dalawampu ang sugatan sa pamamaril ng dalawang menor de edad sa loob mismo ng paaralan sa Tacloban City.
Ayon sa PNP, pag-aari ng tiyahin na pulis ng katorse-anyos na estudyante ang ginamit niyang baril habang nakarehistro naman sa isang security agency sa Cebu City ang isa pang baril.
Dahil menor de edad ang mga sangkot, nabuhay tuloy ang usapin tungkol sa pagpapababa ng age of criminal liability ng mga kabataan.
Iba-iba ang opinyon ng ating mga Kapuso diyan.
Pero ano nga ba talaga ang sinasabi ng kasalukuyang batas tungkol dito? Ask me, ask Atty. Gaby!
Ang tanong ng bayan: Hindi nga ba makukulong kapag menor de edad ang gumawa ng krimen?
Ayon sa Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 (Republic Act No. 9344), ang mga batang may edad 15-anyos pababa ay exempted sa criminal liability.
Pero hindi ito nangangahulugan na wala nang magiging aksyon laban sa kanila dahil malamang ay isasailalim sila sa mga intervention program ng pamahalaan. Ito ay maaaring counseling, education, at rehabilitation na naglalayong gabayan at ituwid ang kanilang pag-uugali.
At kung ang kanilang ginawa ay isang “serious o heinous crime,” halimbawa nga ay murder, mga drug cases na 12 years or more ang penalty, serious illegal detention na namatay ang biktima, or arson, walang ngang kulong pero mandatory na ipalalagay sa Bahay Pag-asa or sa juvenile detention facility ang bata.
Samantala, para sa mga batang between 15 at 18 years old, tutukuyin ng mga awtoridad kung sila ay kumilos nang may discernment.
Ang discernment ay tumutukoy sa kakayahan ng bata na maunawaan ang tama at mali ng kanyang ginawa at ang mga posibleng consequences nito.
Kung mapatutunayang kumilos siya nang may discernment, maaari siyang managot at humarap sa criminal liability.
Ang pagtukoy kung ang isang bata ay kumilos nang may discernment ay karaniwang isinasagawa sa tulong ng social worker ng Department of Social Welfare and Development bilang bahagi ng proseso ng imbestigasyon at pagsusuri ng kaso.
Kung 15 to 18 years old at may discernment at gumawa ng isang heinous or serious crime, magkakaroon ng paglilitis pero hindi naman ilalagay sa Bilibid kasama ng matatandang preso kung mahatulang guilty. Baka mas mapasama lamang ang bata kapag isinama sa tinatawag na hardened criminals.
Suspended ang sentence pero malamang ay ilalagay sa Bahay Pag-asa o isang special youth facility, dahil ang aim pa rin ay rehabilitation.
Kapag siya ay umabot ng edad na 21 years old, susuriin ulit ng korte kung successful ang rehabilitation at reformation ng child in conflict with the law.
Kung ang sagot ay hindi – incorrigible pala, ayaw sumunod, ayaw mag-cooperate sa mga effort na ma-reform at ma-rehabilitate siya – lifted ang suspension ng kanyang sentensiya at hahatulan with finality.
After, saka niya ise-serve ang kanyang sentence for the crime of murder, halimbawa, with the mitigating circumstance of minority.
Ano naman ang pananagutan ng mga magulang o guardian ng mga sangkot na menor de edad? Pati ‘yung tiyahin na pulis kung saan umano nakuha ang baril?
Kapag ang isang menor de edad ay exempted sa criminal liability, hindi ito nangangahulugan na wala nang mananagot sa naging krimen – especially insofar as the civil liability is concerned o ang tinatawag nating damages o danyos.
Dahil nangyari ang insidente sa paaralan, maaaring managot ang paaralan dito kung naganap dahil sa kapabayaan o kakulangan sa pangangalaga.
At other times, ang mga magulang usually ang mananagot sa civil liability na dapat panagutan dahil sa pagkakamali ng mga anak.
Sa madaling salita, ang sinumang nagkulang sa kanilang tungkulin na magbigay ng wastong pangangalaga at pag-iingat sa menor de edad ay maaaring papanagutin sa mga pinsalang naidulot ng krimen.
At ‘yung tiyahin na pulis – kailangan din suriin ang dahilan kung bakit nakuha ang baril na na-issue sa kanya. Magkakaroon siya ng posibleng administrative, civil, at criminal liability dahil dito.
Kailangan tingnan kung may matinding pagpapabaya na humantong sa pagkamatay ng mga inosenteng estudyante.
Ang mga usaping batas, bibigyan nating linaw. Para sa kapayapaan ng pag-iisip, huwag magdalawang-isip. Ask me, ask Atty. Gaby!
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.
Gatchalian made the remarks after initial police investigation linked one of the Grade 9 students involved in the shooting to GoreBox, a mobile game application “which allows players to experiment with various weapons and is known for its graphic depictions of violence.”
“Isa sa mga finile ko dito sa Senado ay ma-ban ang social media sa 16 years old and below,” Gatchalian told Super Radyo dzBB.
(One of the bills I filed in the Senate is barring minors aged 16 years old and below in social media.)
Authorities have filed a complaint against the 15-year-old student involved in the deadly Tacloban shooting incident, the Police Regional Office 8 (PRO 8) said Wednesday.
“We already have filed the criminal complaint against the CICL [child in conflict with the law] who is above 15 years old last night with the Prosecutor’s Office,” PRO 8 Public Information Office chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Analiza Armeza said in an interview on Unang Balita.
Armeza was referring to one of two students taken into custody by authorities after a shooting incident at San Jose National High School in Barangay San Jose, Tacloban City on June 22. Three students died while many others were injured. The other student in custody is 14 years old.
Asked about the possible motive for the shooting, Armeza said bullying is one of the angles being looked into in the investigation, but added that the matter is with the Prosecutor’s Office already.
“As to the motive and others, kasi nasa jurisdiction na siya ng Prosecution Service. They will be the one to assess and evaluate the complaint,” she said.
“‘Yan (bullying) ang isang tiningnan sa conduct ng investigation. Actually kahit naman na-file na siya with the Prosecutor’s office, for a comprehensive approach and formulation of intervention, kasi magiging part naman din ‘yung Philippine National Police dito, other motives are taken into consideration,” Armeza said.
“We are not singling out one specific motive lang, angle of one specific motive,” she added.
Asked if it is true that the younger student fired more bullets than the older one, Armeza said: “That’s the information that we have gathered but as I have said made-determine po ‘yan sa evaluation and assessment of the Prosecutor’s Office.”
The PRO 8 official also said PNP personnel already had “an initial talk” with the female police officer whose firearm was allegedly used by her nephew, said to be one of the teen shooters.
“She safekeep the firearm. Also confusion niya why nakuha ng kanyang pamangkin ‘yung baril kasi tinago naman niya ‘yon,” Armeza said.
“Ongoing po ang admin investigation sa kanya and ‘yun nga, nasa restrictive custody na siya and na-terminate na po ‘yung kanyang designation,” she added.
The two CICLs have already been turned over to the City Social Welfare and Development Office of Tacloban City, she said.
“So at present, turned over po sila sa City Social Welfare and Development Office ng Tacloban,” Armeza said.
As for the injured students, Armeza said, “So far, nasa stable condition na po ‘yung mga injured victims.”
Asked if the CICLs’ parents would also be charged, she said: “Yes sir, we are considering that as our action taken sa law enforcement na side.”
Armeza also said they have determined that the two CICLs were the only ones involved in the shooting incident.
“As to the kasabwat, may lumalabas na mga balita na meron pang iba na mga students na kasama nga sa supposedly, supposedly kasama in the commission of the crime. We already have determined that sila lang po talagang dalawa ‘yung involved CICL,” she said.
School security
Armeza said police presence will be heightened near schools in compliance with directives from PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. and the regional director.
“There is already a standing directive from our chief PNP and our regional director for the increase of police presence sa mga schools and also our mobile and foot patrols,” she said.
“So ‘yun din, ‘yung strengthening of our coordination and partnership with the PTA, with the teachers, and our local government units lalo sa barangay officials,” she added. —KG, GMA News
Schools in the regions have tightened security measures and strengthened bag inspections following recent incidents of violence involving students in other parts of the country.
Education and police officials said heightened security protocols are now being implemented in schools across the province after the fatal shooting of two minor students inside a school in Tacloban City and a separate incident involving a Grade 8 student who allegedly brandished a knife inside a private school in General Trias, Cavite.
The incidents have raised concerns among parents and school administrators about the safety of learners.
In Dagupan City, the police and the Department of Education have strengthened campus security measures, including stricter inspections at school entrances and increased police visibility.
“Naalarma kami bilang magulang dito sa paaralan. Kailangan na bantay-sarado ng mga kapulisan para magkaroon tayo ng peace of mind,” Mercedes Santos, whose grandchild studies at Dagupan City National High School, said.
The Dagupan City Police Office said around 80 police officers have been deployed to 45 public schools as part of preventive security measures.
“Maglagay po tayo ng pulis kada school natin para magkaroon tayo ng preemptive measures at hindi na maulit ‘yung mga incident sa schools,” Police Colonel Arnold Solomon, director of the Dagupan City Police Office, said.
Meanwhile, the Schools Division Office for Districts 9 and 10 has directed schools to strengthen safety and security measures.
“Lahat ng guidelines for the safety of our learners based on the DepEd rules talagang reactivated at heightened. Naka-red alert na kami,” Public Schools District Supervisor Dr. Edwin Ferrer said.
Reinforced security personnel
In Calasiao, school officials at Calasiao Comprehensive National High School reviewed and reinforced their learner safety protocols, focusing on stricter inspections at school gates.
Security guards now use metal detectors and conduct tighter bag checks to prevent prohibited items from entering campus.
Principal IV Dr. Carina Untalasco said the school continues to follow its learner safety and security plan while coordinating with teachers and guidance personnel.
Students said the stricter inspections help ensure a safer school environment.
“Kasi po para malaman kung ano po yung laman ng gamit… kung may dalang kutsilyo o mga matutulis na bagay… maganda para matignan ng mga guard,” Grade 9 student Jasper Umagtan said.
The Calasiao Police Station said it continues to coordinate with school officials through regular visits and dialogue.
Authorities said monitoring of school entrances and exits will continue throughout the school year.
Stricter ‘No ID, No Entry’ policies
In Davao City, DepEd officials said schools have strengthened security measures, including strict implementation of a “No ID, No Entry” policy for students, staff, and visitors.
The Department of Education (DepEd) in Davao City has beefed up security measures in schools following the deadly shooting incident at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City and other violent incidents reported in other schools across the country.
DepEd Davao City said as part of strengthened safety measures, schools are strictly implementing a “No ID, No Entry” policy for all students, staff, and visitors.
Bag inspections are also being conducted at school gates, while proper registration and the entry of complete information in the logbook are also strictly enforced for all guests and other individuals entering the campus.
At Davao City National High School, strict security measures are nothing new as students have become accustomed to undergoing inspections every time they enter the school, where security personnel check the belongings they bring onto campus.
“Aduna kitay siyam ka security personnel unya as of now naa tay duha ka CSU nalang. Ang atong mga best practices diri is that pagsulod jud sa atong estudyante considering nga perti ani nilang daghana. Gi-implement gyud nato ang pacheck sa ilang mga bags, belongings, ang atong mga guards naa gyud na silay stick,” Davao City National High School Principal, Evelyn Magno, said.
Aside from its own security personnel, police officers and personnel from the Davao City Public Safety and Security Office (PSSO) have also been deployed to help ensure the safety and security of the school.
School officials have also requested additional PSSO personnel to further strengthen campus security.
“Usahay naay dala nga mga scissors. Ginaconfiscate gyud na siya and then gina-endorse sa atong guidance advocates office. Now, if ever naa silay makuha, we call the attention sa mga ginikanan and then why is it so nga nagdala sila mga ing-ana,” Magno said.
The school is also surrounded with more than 100 CCTV cameras, where activities in school buildings are monitored.
At Mintal Comprehensive High School, school authorities also use handheld metal detectors to inspect bags and other belongings.
The school also enforces a “No ID, No Entry” policy to prevent unauthorized individuals and outsiders from entering the premises.
“Kung dili mga taga diha or dili estudyante, so, aduna gayud dapt silay policy nga macontrol ang access sa sulod sa eskwelahan,” Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Spokesperson, Major Maria Teresita Gaspan, said.
Authorities said that in the shooting incident involving two students at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City on Monday, which left three people dead and 20 others injured, one of the suspects reportedly claimed he was influenced by an online gaming application, according to Police Regional Office 8.
Police also said the attack was allegedly planned for more than a month.
A psychologist said that one factor contributing to problematic behavior among young people is modeling, or the tendency to imitate information and behavior they are exposed to.
“Because of social media, ang mga estudyante pwede sila maka-access og information nga miskan pa og dili appropriate sa ilang edad makit-an nila. In relation man gud sa Tacloban nga incident, the school shooting is not really something new already because it has been a news in the west particularly sa America. So, kana man gud nga mga balita, accessible kayo na siya sa social media platforms on what has happened and because of that it gives a certain suggestability sa mga estudyante. So, mao ng delikado kay ang modelling they tend to follow something that they have learned from other sources of information,” LSL Counseling & Testing Head Psychologist, Bonnie Junell Abanid, said.
He added that young people are also said to have higher impulsivity, or the tendency to act without considering the long-term consequences of their actions.
“These are developmentally typical for teenagers. So, that’s why ang mga batan-on, ginaguide gyud na sila o gina-guard kung unsa ang content nga ma-expose sila kay makaapekto na the way they think and the way that they do things,” Abanid added.
Abanid also said while guidance in schools and communities is important, it should start within the family first.
Parents should be the first to identify and address the problems of their children and later coordinate with teachers, as the school serves as a second home, and friends who also influence them.
“Ang family I see it as a ministry. Ang pamilya mas maayo jud magsabay magkaon. Unya kung magkaon og sabay, dili mangasaba ang parents, make dinner time a happy time. So, kana nga time naay sharing ba, naay monitoring, naa nakay makita nga indicators nga murag dili naman okay ang akong anak,” Abanid said. —GMA Regional TV
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