Senate to probe Tacloban school shooting on July 1

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June 23, 2026 | 5:38pm

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate women and children committee will open an investigation on July 1 into the school shooting at Tacloban City that left three minors dead and 20 others wounded. 

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, chairperson of the committee, said in a statement Tuesday that the investigation will also explore the role online platforms may play in radicalizing children into violence.

Police confirmed to the media on Tuesday that one of the two teenage suspects who opened fire on their schoolmates at San Jose National High School had been immersed in GoreBox, a violent sandbox video game. All the victims were minors.

The shooting took place less than a month after the school year had just begun.

"On July 1, we will reopen the hearing to find out whether online platforms play a role in spreading violent ideas," Hontiveros said in Filipino. "They are becoming nests for groups that brainwash and radicalize children."

"We will again look at whether all online platforms are doing enough to keep young people from being exploited," she said.

The hearing revives an investigation the same committee began in April, when it surfaced findings that online platforms and gaming spaces were allegedly being used to manipulate children into violence, and to subject them to sexual abuse, exploitation and extortion.

Police had recovered a 9mm Glock pistol and a .38-calibre revolver from the scene of the attack. One was a service firearm belonging to a police relative of one suspect, who is now under investigation.

In a statement on the incident, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian called to mobilize parents and local governments through the Parent Effectiveness Service Program, established under Republic Act 11908, which he authored. 

"How did they get access to firearms, and why do they know how to use them at such a young age?" he asked. "If we are serious about ending violence in our schools, the solution must begin inside our homes," he said in Filipino. 

Sen. Erwin Tulfo, chair of the Blue Ribbon committee, urged colleagues to investigate at once and called for stronger enforcement of the Anti-Bullying Act. 

Sen. Bam Aquino, chair of the basic education panel, said the committee has been reviewing the School Safety Act and would include the recent shooting into its evaluation of the law. 

Sen. Bong Go called for a review of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act — Republic Act 9344, as amended — alongside school-safety rules and mental health support.