Gatchalian Urges Stricter Gun Rules After South Cotabato Shooting

Senate President Win Gatchalian on Wednesday called for stricter gun regulations in the aftermath of the South Cotabato school shooting that left three students dead. “I call for a review of the rules and protocols governing the issuance of firearms to government personnel. Re-examine standards for safekeeping, storage, and ensuring that access to weapons never reaches untrained hands, especially children,” Gatchalian said in a privilege speech during Wednesday’s plenary session. Gatchalian also pushed for early detection when it came to mental health struggles. “Let us take care not to stigmatize anyone with mental health struggles, especially those who have the courage to ask for help, because they do not make a person violent. Our objective must be early detection, intervention, and support, so that qualified professional help reaches a distressed child, and that credible threats are assessed properly before anyone is harmed,” he added. Gatchalian asked the public to remain calm amid these shootings, saying that while it is easy to get mad and look for someone to blame, there needs to be proper sharing of information. Authorities have suspected that the shooter may have been influenced by online elements. He also urged Meta to block or stop the spreading of these types of videos on social media. The Senate President said he also supported the passing of the Comprehensive School Safety Act and the Child Online Safety Protection Act. The Comprehensive School Safety Act mandated every educational institution to have a School Safety Plan, and prohibited acts of violence, bullying, digital harm and more. It was passed on the third and final reading at the Senate, a few days after the South Cotabato school shooting. Meanwhile, the Child Online Safety Protection Act aims to provide stronger protection for children against online sexual abuse and exploitation. The school shooting in Banga National High School in South Cotabato is the third school shooting that resulted in multiple deaths. In June, two students opened fire on their classmates in a Tacloban school, killing three others. In August, another student killed his schoolmate in Ateneo de Zamboanga before turning the gun on himself. —VAL, GMA News