NAVOTAS City Rep. Tobias “Toby” Tiangco has filed a House Resolution directing several House committees to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the tragic shooting incident at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City last June 22, 2026, that claimed the lives of three students and injured several others.
The resolution seeks to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and identify possible gaps in existing laws on school safety, firearms regulation, child protection, and juvenile justice.
“The deaths of these young students are a tragedy that should never happen again. We owe it to the victims and their families to find out what went wrong and ensure that our schools remain safe places for our children,” Tiangco said.
Initial reports indicate that the alleged perpetrators are minors aged 15 and 14, raising serious concerns about juvenile delinquency, access to firearms, parental responsibility, and the adequacy of existing intervention and rehabilitation mechanisms for at-risk youth.
According to Tiangco, the incident highlights the need to review whether current laws and policies are sufficient and properly implemented, particularly the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, the Anti-Bullying Act, and the Mental Health Act.
“We must ask difficult questions. How did minors gain access to firearms? Were there warning signs that were missed? Are our schools adequately equipped to prevent and respond to these kinds of incidents? These are questions that Congress cannot ignore,” he said.
The House inquiry will examine, among others, school safety protocols, anti-bullying and child protection programs, mental health and psychosocial support services, emergency response mechanisms, and possible lapses in the custody and regulation of the firearms involved in the incident.
Tiangco also stressed that the inquiry could provide valuable insights into ongoing discussions on reforming the country’s juvenile justice system.
“This is not simply about punishment. It is about prevention, accountability, rehabilitation, and ensuring that no other family has to endure this kind of heartbreak,” he said.
The resolution calls for the participation of relevant government agencies, school officials, local government units, child protection advocates, mental health professionals, and law enforcement authorities to recommend legislative and policy reforms that will better protect Filipino children and communities from similar acts of violence in the future.
metrosundaily
