LOOK: Policewoman-aunt of 14-year-old Tacloban school shooting suspect present at Senate probe — ANC

[0:00] Then from the Philippine National Police, we have Colonel Fernando Cunanan, Jr. [0:06] We have the Deputy Director for Administration, Mr. Rizmon Tadina. [0:13] Then from the Women and Children Protection Center, we have the Chief Police Brigadier General, Maria Sheila Portenco. [0:23] Police Colonel, Catherine Tamayo-Sepriano. [0:28] Then we have the Regional Director of Police Regional Office, Region 8. [0:32] We have Police Brigadier General, Jason Capoy. [0:37] We have Police Lieutenant, Julie John Bandujo. [0:43] Then from Tacloban City Police Office, we have Police Colonel Noelito Jetigan. [0:51] Miss Metallica Lynn Pasencia. [0:54] Then from the Philippine National Police, we have Attorney, PSSG Arla Ray Pasencia. [1:01] We have, from the National Bureau of Investigation, we have Mr. Roy Rufino Suniga. [1:08] Come sec, excuse me, bago kayo magpatuloy. [1:13] Inote lang po ng Chair na si Sergeant Pasencia ng PNP. [1:20] Salamat sa inyong presensya. [1:22] Ang tita ni Elias Nash. [1:24] Binabanggit ko rin po iyon para ipabatid sa lahat na sinubukan din po ng Komite imbitahin yung mga magulang ni Elias Rod. [1:34] Kaya lang hindi po namin sila mahanap. [1:36] So just for the record, pakituloy, comsec. [1:39] From the National Bureau of Investigation, we have Mr. Roy Rufino Suniga. [1:46] Mr. Chris Edgardo Añonuevo. [1:49] Then from the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime, we have Mr. Benjamin Batara Jr. [1:58] We have Ms. Cintia Faltado. [2:01] From the Anti-Terrorism Council, we have Mr. Alexander Macario. [2:08] From the Ms. Elizabeth Cuevas-Garcia. [2:13] Mr. Ted Lorenzo Lago. [2:15] From the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, we have Mr. Gary Kawilan Jr. [2:22] Attorney Mary May Arcelias. [2:24] From the Council for the Welfare of Children, we have Undersecretary Angelo Tapales. [2:31] We have Ms. Inja Alodia Santiago. [2:35] From the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council, we have Attorney Tricia Clare Opo. [2:42] Together with Ms. Lilibeth Acera-Galliego. [2:45] Ms. Lilani Reyes. [2:47] And Ms. Rebecca Balisteros. [2:51] From the, we have the Director, we have the former Deputy Director General for Cyber Emerging Tres. [3:00] Mr. Francisco Asli Acidilio. [3:05] Then from the Public Attorney's Office Regional Office No. 8, we have Attorney Bebelin Monsato. [3:15] From Philippine Psychiatric Association, we have Dr. Joan May Perez-Rial. [3:22] Then Dr. Maria Zaira Jane Corpus. [3:27] From the Psychological Association of the Philippines, we have Reverend Father Jose Geraldo Costa, who will join us online. [3:37] Then we have Mr. Jericho Mediel. [3:40] Then we have Ms. Maria Catherine Pestania-Africa. [3:46] From the UP Philippine General Hospital Child Protection Unit, we have Dr. Princess Jean Gairano. [3:56] From the Southern Illinois University, we have the Head Consultant for Presa Foundation Association. [4:06] We have Dr. Raymond Narag. [4:09] Then together with Ms. Teresita Gomez. [4:12] Ms. Irene Joan Aguila. [4:13] Then from the Ateneo of the Manila University, we have Dr. Lian Alampay. [4:21] Okay. [4:22] Then from the UNICEF, we have Akiriko Foshimi, the Chief Education. [4:29] Then we have Mr. Nicholas Tenazas. [4:35] We also have you as the Country Manager for Child Rescue Coalition and also the Consultant for International Center for Missing and Exploited Children. [4:43] We have Attorney Jewel de la Cruz. [4:47] So we have the Head of the Depweb Connect, Mr. Luis Angelo Tala-Tala. [4:54] Okay. [4:55] Together with Mr. Rafael Jubida. [5:00] Ms. Antoinette Bertolome. [5:01] From the Stairway Foundation, we have Mr. Israel Deloy. [5:06] From Bahay Pagasa, Montinglupa City, we have the Center Head. [5:09] We have Ms. Sheila Inahe. [5:14] Together with Ms. Ella Marie Basco and Ms. Raquel Dilao. [5:18] From the International, from the Adjoan Faculty, Asian Institute of Management, we have Mr. Jeffrey Ian D, together with Attorney Camille Lamado. [5:35] Then from the Philippine Institute of Cybersecurity Professionals, we have Mr. Angel Reduble. [5:41] And for Dark Web, we have Mr. Brett Morales. [5:48] For Globe Telecom, we have the Legal Counsel, Attorney Joseph Malcontento. [5:58] Okay. [5:58] For Smart Communication, we have Attorney Kenneth Reganon. [6:10] For Facebook, Singapore. [6:13] We have Mr. Yingios Lee Chayanan. [6:18] Then for TikTok Philippines, we have Attorney Ives Gonzalez. [6:22] Together with Attorney Enrique Lim Cruz. [6:27] From Go Digital Philippines, we have Attorney Mark Goriseta. [6:32] For Leveret, we have the President Game Developer Association of the Philippines. [6:42] We have Ms. Mary Lizabeth Lu, together with Mr. Norman Lee and Ms. Ami Rose Ramos. [6:53] Then we have the relatives of the victims. [6:57] We have Giannika Ella May-Bituin and Mr. Rolando Lapidario and Mr. Jamie Separa. [7:06] Ms. Jenny Lynn Bedoria and Mr. Jamie Separa will join us online. [7:17] We have also from the Executive Director of Child Protection Network Foundation from UPPGH. [7:23] We have Dr. Bernadette J. Madrid and Ms. Norieta Balderrama, also from PGH. [7:31] From META. [7:32] We also have with us from META, we have Attorney Gio Tingso. [7:36] They had a policy, had a public policy. [7:43] Then we have also from Deep Web Connect, we have Mr. Luis Angelo Tala-Tala. [7:52] Then from META, we have Ms. Nicole Mejia. [8:00] From PLDT, we have Gilbert Bautista. [8:04] From Supreme Court, we have Patricia Custodio. [8:09] Then from PLDT also, we have Kent Dabasol Abestrus. [8:14] From Court of Appeals, we have Geraldine May Talabi Salvador. [8:19] Then we have, from DOJ, we have Shannon Christopher Almoradi Guerlain. [8:27] From DSWD, we have Maria Adela Aragon Guerrero. [8:30] Then from BICT, we have Sophia Anne-Marie Sreyes-Munzon. [8:35] Then from UNICEF, we have Faye Alma Balanion. [8:39] From DOJ, we have Ms. Ivy Sofia Perolina Esperanza. [8:44] And Ms. Therese Alexa de Guzman Ramos. [8:47] From PLDT, we have Lebon Erisbon Eris-Pasqua Lurico. [8:53] Then from CICC, we have Marvin Muyot. [8:57] From also Judy Ann Arias. [9:02] May request everyone, those acknowledged, to please stand up. [9:08] Comsec, before you proceed, [9:10] ang tamang designation po kay Mr. Brett Morales ay Dark Web Forensic Analyst. [9:17] And bago po, pasusumpain na po ni Comsec, yung mga hindi pa nanumpa, [9:24] but ngayon pa lamang gusto pong i-acknowledge ng Chair, [9:28] ang presence online ni Senator Bonggo. [9:30] So, salamat po, Sen Bong, sa pagdalo. [9:33] Pagkatapos po nilang manumpa, [9:35] tatunin ko kayo kung meron din po kayong opening statement. [9:38] Salamat, Sen Bong. [9:39] Comsec, paki-administer yung oath. [9:44] May request to please raise your ragged hand, repeat after me. [9:51] I, state your name, do solemnly swear, [9:57] that I will tell the truth, the whole truth, [10:01] but nothing but the truth to this investigation. [10:05] Thank you. You may now take your seat. [10:08] Salamat, Comsec, at maraming salamat sa lahat ng resource persons. [10:12] Sen. Bong, meron po ba kayong opening statement? [10:16] Opo. Madam Chair, [10:19] Yes, Sen. Bong. [10:22] Salamat po, Madam Chair. [10:24] Sa mga kasamahan kong Senador, [10:26] Sen. Rafi and Sen. President Nguyen, [10:31] sa mga kababayan kong nakikinig ngayon, [10:34] ayong adlaw sa inyong tanahan, [10:36] maupay ang adlaw, [10:37] kasi karamihan po yung mga taga-region 8 po. [10:42] I'm sure nakikinig rin po, no? [10:44] May adlaw sa inyong tanahan. [10:45] Magandang araw. [10:47] I would like to express my deep sadness [10:49] and profound concern [10:51] over the tragic incident at Jose National High School [10:55] in Tacloban City, Leyte, [10:57] an incident that claimed the lives of three students. [11:02] We express our deepest condolences [11:04] to the families who lost their children. [11:07] We likewise extend our sympathies [11:09] to those who were injured, [11:11] the teachers, school personnel, [11:14] everyone affected by this senseless act of violence. [11:19] Madam Chair, [11:20] what makes this tragedy even more heartbreaking [11:24] is that the alleged perpetrators are themselves minors. [11:32] Nakakalungkot po yun. [11:34] Talagang nabigla po tayong lahat [11:38] at ayaw po nating mangyari dito sa ating bayan, [11:42] yung mga nangyayari sa ibang bansa [11:45] na nakakagulat, [11:47] na hindi natin inaakala. [11:49] As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Youth [11:53] and Vice Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, [11:56] I believe that this incident should be viewed [11:59] not be viewed merely as a peace and order concern. [12:08] It is equally a youth welfare issue, [12:12] a public health issue, [12:14] and a challenge to our education system. [12:17] This tragedy should prompt a serious review [12:22] of our school's safety protocols [12:24] and mental health programs. [12:27] Mental health issue is real. [12:30] Talagang marami pong apektado. [12:33] Even during the pandemic time, [12:37] dami pong apektado. [12:38] At hanggang ngayon, [12:39] hanggang ngayon, [12:40] talagang tinatamaan tayo nito. [12:44] Hindi lang ito, [12:45] ito usapin ng siguridad. [12:47] Kailangan din natin tingnan [12:49] ang kalagayan ng ating mga kabataan, [12:52] kung may problema sa bahay, [12:54] sa paaralan, [12:55] sa komunidad. [12:57] Mas mabuti ang maagapan ka agad ito. [13:02] Ang kanilang mental health, [13:05] dapat itong maagapan agad. [13:07] Tutukan talaga. [13:08] Mas mabuti ang prevention [13:09] kaysa hintayin pa natin may masaktan o mamatay. [13:14] Mental health issue is real. [13:17] Just before the Tacloban City incident [13:23] on June 16, [13:27] a 14-year-old grade 8 student [13:30] wounded the 7 grade 5 students [13:34] in a knife attack [13:36] inside a private school [13:37] in General Trias, Kawite. [13:39] Three days later, [13:42] an 18-year-old grade 11 student [13:44] was wounded [13:46] in a knife attack [13:50] inside the Cavite National High School [13:53] in Cavite City. [13:55] Days after the Tacloban City shooting, [13:58] another disturbing incident occurred [14:01] outside Koleheo ng Pantukan [14:03] in Davao de Oro, [14:05] where a man who had just attended [14:07] his graduation [14:08] was fatally shot [14:09] near the school premises. [14:11] These successive incidents [14:15] should further compel [14:16] government agencies [14:17] to take school safety, [14:21] youth protection, [14:22] and mental health concerns [14:23] with greater urgency. [14:26] In terms of criminal responsibility, [14:29] these cases have likewise [14:31] renewed attention [14:32] on Republic Act No. 9344 [14:35] or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act [14:39] of 2016 [14:41] as amended by Republic Act No. 10630, [14:46] which govern cases [14:48] involving children at risk [14:50] and children in conflict with the law. [14:53] If there are aspects [14:54] of our existing laws [14:55] and regulations [14:56] that require strengthening, [14:59] then we must carefully review them. [15:01] But such a review [15:04] must remain evidence-based [15:06] and balanced. [15:07] One that upholds accountability [15:10] while preserving the laws [15:12] rehabilitative purpose. [15:16] Matagal na po ito eh. [15:18] Pag may nangyayari, [15:20] pag-uusapan, [15:22] dapat i-review. [15:24] But until now, [15:26] hindi pa rin po gumagalaw. [15:29] Huwag na po sana natin [15:31] antayin na panibagong pangyayari. [15:33] Pag-aralan natin [15:34] ng mabuti. [15:35] May trabaho po natin [15:36] bilang mababatas, [15:37] bilang senador, [15:39] na tingnan po ito [15:41] nung mabuti. [15:41] Marami na pong nangyayari. [15:44] Iba na po ang panahon ngayon. [15:46] Iba na po ang sitwasyon ngayon. [15:48] Dahil sa mga online platforms, [15:52] iba na po. [15:54] Magkaiba nung 10 years ago, [15:57] magkaiba 20 years ago. [15:58] Iba na po ang panahon ngayon. [15:59] Kung meron dapat ayusin [16:02] sa mga nakasalukuyang batas [16:03] at regulasyon, [16:05] ayusin na natin ito ngayon. [16:07] Dapat malinaw din [16:09] na ang mga bata [16:10] ay kailangan ng gabay, [16:12] intervention, [16:13] at tamang proseso. [16:16] Dapat protektahan ang biktima, [16:18] panagutin ang may sala [16:19] ayon sa batas, [16:20] at tulungan din natin [16:21] ang kabataang [16:22] nalilihis ng landas. [16:26] In terms of public safety, [16:28] the government has to [16:30] determine how [16:31] firearms are being [16:33] accessed and brought [16:34] near schools [16:36] and public events. [16:38] The safety of our students, [16:40] parents, [16:41] teachers, [16:41] and school personnel [16:42] must remain [16:44] a continuing responsibility, [16:46] not only during [16:47] crisis, [16:49] but every [16:50] single day. [16:51] The government [16:52] should also explore [16:53] whether there is a need [16:54] for a more visible police [16:56] and law enforcement [16:58] presence in our schools, [17:00] particularly during [17:01] entry and dismissal hours [17:04] and major school activities. [17:07] Such a presence [17:08] should be preventive [17:10] and must be implemented [17:11] in close coordination [17:12] with school authorities. [17:14] At hindi po ito [17:16] dapat magdulot [17:17] ng takot [17:18] o makasagabal [17:19] sa pag-aaral, [17:20] any security measure [17:21] must fully respect [17:23] and uphold [17:23] academic freedom [17:24] while ensuring [17:25] that our schools [17:26] remain safe spaces. [17:28] because siguro [17:29] naman na [17:30] hindi naman sobra [17:32] yung police [17:32] natin [17:33] sa ngayon. [17:34] Maring kulang pa [17:35] pero kung maari, [17:37] sana po [17:38] yung ma-deploy [17:38] ito sa mga [17:39] skwelahan [17:41] kesa naman [17:42] na andiyan-dyan [17:43] lang po [17:44] sa kanilang [17:45] mga [17:45] opisina. [17:47] Mas mag-gamit po ito [17:48] kung [17:49] may police [17:50] visibility. [17:52] Equally, [17:53] if [17:54] more important, [17:55] Madam Chair, [17:57] at sa mga [17:58] kasamahan ko po [17:59] na senador [18:00] at sa kongreso [18:02] is the preventive [18:04] aspect. [18:05] Importance, [18:06] importante po [18:08] na pagtuunan [18:09] ng pansin [18:10] ang mental health [18:11] ng mga kabataan [18:12] at mga estudyante. [18:13] Last Congress [18:14] ay co-authored [18:16] and co-sponsored [18:16] Republic Act [18:17] No. 12080, [18:20] the Basic [18:21] Education, [18:23] Mental Health [18:23] and Well-Being [18:24] Promotion Act [18:25] which was [18:26] principally sponsored [18:27] by Senate President [18:28] to Wingachalian. [18:30] This law seeks [18:31] to institutionalize [18:32] stronger mental health [18:33] and well-being [18:34] services [18:35] in our [18:36] basic education [18:37] institutions. [18:38] May batas po tayo [18:39] dyan. [18:40] Kabilang po dito [18:41] ang pagkakaroon [18:42] ng school [18:43] counselors [18:43] and school [18:44] counselor [18:45] associates [18:46] sa mga [18:47] pampublikong [18:48] paaralan. [18:49] During a [18:50] previous hearing [18:51] of the Committee [18:52] on Youth, [18:52] pinag-usapan po [18:53] natin na ito, [18:54] natanong ko po ito, [18:56] itong batas na ito [18:57] kung na-implement na. [18:59] We have raised [19:00] that this [19:01] not only [19:02] about the [19:05] full implementation, [19:07] pero ang problema [19:08] po dito, [19:09] we have raised [19:11] that there are [19:12] only about [19:13] 4,006, [19:15] 4,000, [19:17] let me repeat, [19:18] there are only [19:19] 4,069 [19:21] licensed [19:22] guidance [19:22] counselors [19:23] nationwide [19:24] as of [19:25] 2022. [19:27] The country [19:28] would need [19:29] around [19:29] 47,000 [19:32] guidance [19:33] counselors [19:33] to meet [19:34] the ideal [19:35] ratio. [19:36] Ang layo po, [19:37] ang problema [19:38] yung availability [19:38] ng mga [19:39] guidance [19:40] counselors [19:40] sa ngayon. [19:42] Ito po yung [19:42] ideal [19:43] ratio [19:43] na one [19:44] counselor [19:44] for every [19:45] 500 [19:46] learners. [19:47] Ang problema, [19:48] wala nga tayong [19:49] mga licensed [19:50] guidance [19:50] counselors. [19:52] It was also [19:53] reported [19:54] during the [19:54] hearing [19:54] that we [19:55] have [19:55] 50 [19:56] child [19:57] psychiatrists [19:58] in the [19:58] Philippines, [19:59] we really [19:59] have a [20:00] crisis [20:00] in terms [20:01] of our [20:01] supply [20:02] of [20:02] mental [20:02] health [20:03] professionals. [20:04] Ito po [20:04] talagang [20:05] malaking [20:05] problema [20:06] natin. [20:07] Kaya [20:07] naman [20:07] habang [20:08] kulang [20:08] po tayo [20:09] sa [20:09] guidance [20:09] sa [20:09] counselors, [20:10] baka [20:11] maaari [20:11] natin [20:12] itong [20:12] punuan [20:12] pansamantala [20:13] ng mga [20:14] school [20:14] counselor [20:15] associates. [20:17] The [20:17] DepEd [20:18] reported [20:18] during [20:19] our [20:20] hearing [20:20] earlier [20:21] this year [20:22] that they [20:22] are in [20:22] coordination [20:23] with the [20:24] DBM [20:24] funding [20:25] allocated [20:26] for the [20:26] creation [20:27] of [20:27] 10,000 [20:28] school [20:29] counselor [20:30] associate [20:31] positions [20:32] under [20:32] the [20:33] 2026 [20:34] budget. [20:36] This [20:36] congress [20:36] I likewise [20:37] filed [20:37] Senate [20:38] Bill 176 [20:39] which proposes [20:40] the establishment [20:41] of mental [20:41] health [20:42] offices [20:42] in all [20:44] public [20:44] higher [20:45] education [20:45] institutions [20:46] nationwide [20:47] to provide [20:48] accessible [20:48] counseling [20:49] services [20:50] trained [20:51] medical [20:52] or [20:53] trained [20:53] mental [20:54] health [20:54] professionals [20:55] and [20:55] 24-7 [20:56] mental [20:57] health [20:58] hotlines [20:59] for [20:59] students [21:00] dahil [21:00] problema [21:01] po talaga [21:02] ang mental [21:02] health [21:03] issue [21:03] sa ngayon. [21:04] The [21:05] recent [21:05] incidents [21:06] underscore [21:07] the urgent [21:07] need to [21:08] strengthen [21:08] our early [21:09] intervention [21:09] systems [21:10] in schools [21:11] and communities [21:12] particularly [21:13] for students [21:14] experiencing [21:15] bullying, [21:17] trauma, [21:17] emotional [21:19] distress, [21:22] family [21:23] problems [21:23] and other [21:24] risk [21:24] factors. [21:26] Matagal ko [21:27] na po [21:27] sinasabi [21:27] na ang [21:28] mental [21:28] health [21:29] ay dapat [21:29] tutukan, [21:31] hindi [21:31] dapat [21:31] ikahiya [21:32] ang paghingi [21:33] ng tulong [21:34] kung may [21:35] batang [21:36] nahihirapan, [21:36] dapat [21:37] may makausap [21:38] po ito, [21:39] may malapitan [21:40] at tutulong [21:41] bago pa [21:41] lumala ang [21:42] problema. [21:43] Lastly, [21:44] as chairman [21:44] of [21:45] Committee [21:47] on Sports, [21:47] I also [21:48] hope [21:48] that [21:49] we [21:50] discuss [21:50] possible [21:51] reforms, [21:52] we remain [21:53] mindful [21:54] not to [21:55] unintentionally [21:58] cast [21:59] online [22:00] gaming [22:01] in a [22:02] negative [22:02] light. [22:03] Esports [22:04] has [22:05] grown [22:05] into [22:06] a [22:06] legitimate [22:06] competitive [22:07] sport [22:08] that [22:09] promotes [22:09] teamwork, [22:10] discipline, [22:11] strategic [22:11] thinking [22:12] and [22:13] digital [22:13] skills [22:14] and [22:15] has [22:15] provided [22:16] many [22:16] young [22:17] Filipinos [22:17] with [22:18] opportunities [22:18] instead of [22:21] imposing [22:21] a blanket [22:23] ban [22:23] on online [22:24] gaming, [22:25] perhaps our [22:26] focus should [22:27] be promoting [22:28] responsible [22:28] gaming, [22:30] strengthening [22:30] parental [22:31] guidance [22:32] while [22:32] ensuring [22:33] that [22:33] online [22:33] gaming [22:37] platforms [22:38] are not [22:39] being used [22:39] by violent [22:41] extremists [22:42] and [22:43] criminal [22:46] groups. [22:46] Madam Chair, [22:49] let this [22:49] heartbreaking [22:51] incidence [22:52] become a [22:54] turning point [22:55] for stronger [22:56] school safety [22:57] measures, [22:58] better youth [22:59] interventions, [23:00] more accessible [23:00] mental health [23:01] services, [23:02] and greater [23:03] cooperation [23:03] among our [23:04] school, [23:05] families, [23:07] communities, [23:08] and government [23:09] institutions. [23:10] Nakikiramay [23:11] po ako [23:12] sa mga [23:12] biktima [23:13] at sa [23:14] kanilang [23:14] mga [23:14] pamilya [23:15] na ipagdasal [23:16] po natin [23:16] ang kanilang [23:17] pagaling [23:18] at ang [23:19] kapayapaan [23:20] ng mga [23:21] nawalan [23:21] ng mahal [23:22] sa buhay [23:23] na pagdasal [23:24] po natin [23:24] sila. [23:25] At maraming [23:25] salamat [23:26] rin po [23:26] Madam Chair [23:27] sa mga [23:28] kasamahan [23:29] ko sa Senado [23:30] sa pagdinig [23:30] na ito. [23:32] Maraming [23:32] salamat [23:33] at magandang [23:34] araw [23:34] po sa inyo [23:35] lahat.