Camille Naredo

Resource persons attend the hearing of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality on Wednesday, July 30, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Resource persons attend the hearing of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality on Wednesday, July 30, 2026. Chaired by Senator Risa Hontiveros, the inquiry seeks to establish the facts surrounding a fatal shooting incident in Tacloban City, identify possible lapses, and determine accountability. The committee is also tackling concerns over online gaming platforms, including Roblox and GoreBox. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

SENATE- TACLOBAN SHOOTING

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178290210162620260701-senate-hearing-tacloban-shooting-MT6.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Resource persons attend the hearing of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality on Wednesday, July 30, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News"/>Resource persons attend the hearing of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality on Wednesday, July 30, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA — The mother of high school student Joyancee Separa became emotional as she faced the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, which is looking into the June 22 mass shooting in San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, Leyte, that killed her daughter.Jennelyn Badoria, on Wednesday, appealed for the lowering of the minimum age of criminal responsibility and establishment of a separate detention facility for youth offenders.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/1/cop-who-owns-gun-used-in-tacloban-school-shooting-faces-senate-probe-1221">READ: Cop says Tacloban school shooter ‘unlawfully’ entered her house, ‘forcibly damaged’ locker to get gun</a></div>“Gusto ko lang sabihin na kung puwede pababaan yung edad na puwedeng makasuhan kasi sabi niya yung nakabaril sa anak ko wala daw crime liability. So paano yan? Ano lang yan sa Bahay Pag-asa?” Badoria asked as she attended the hearing virtually.“Puwede naman siyang makulong doon sa ibang pasilidad na puwede sa kanilang edad para din nila maramdaman yung sakit, yung parusa na kaparat-dapat sa kanila eh,” she continued. “Yung bata na yan nakamatay yan eh, nakamatay yan ng tao, so ano?! Iba-Bahay Pag-asa lang yun?!”Bahay Pag-asa is a “24-hour child-caring institution established, funded and managed by local government units,” according to the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council.The father of another victim, Kaye Lapidario, also wants to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility.Kaye is still in the hospital after being shot while trying to close the door to their classroom as the shooters walked by.“Gusto ko rin ibaba yung 15 to 12 years old para di na pamarisan yung pagkagawa ng krimen. Dahil kung hindi natin ibababa yan, mamimihasa yung mga menor de edad na yan eh. Marami pang batang papatayin dahil hindi sila makukulong,” Rolando Lapidario told the committee.“Nung pumutok yung baril sa kabilang room, naglakad yung suspek, dalawa papunta sa kanilang classroom. Pagkatapos, bigla niyang isinara yung pinto saka naman binaril siya,” he shared.Another student, Gerric Bituin, also got shot and underwent surgery. His sister said Gerric was the best friend of alias Nash, the 14-year-old suspect, and also a friend of alias Rod, the 15-year-old suspect.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/6/24/police-looking-at-family-issues-involving-14-year-old-suspect-in-tacloban-school-shooting-1705">READ: Police looking at family issues involving 14-year-old suspect in Tacloban school shooting </a></div>“Hindi po nila namalayan na si Nash nasa likod na pala ng classroom nila, papatayo pa lang siya, binaril siya, doon siya binaril nakatalikod siya,” said Janica Bituin.Senator Raffy Tulfo wants to amend the Juvenile Justice Welfare Act and establish a separate detention facility for minors who commit heinous crimes.“Hindi lang sa Bahay Pag-asa. Talagang selda na makikita ng mga perpetrators na parusa pala yung mapapala namin kapag kami ay may ginawang krimen. At parang talagang prison yun nga lang hindi nila kasama yung hardened criminals,” Tulfo said.Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian said they are leaving it to legislators if they want to amend the law.“Kung yan ho ang magiging parte ng amendment ng JJWA na magkaroon ng separate facilities for children who commit heinous crimes, then we will respect that,” Gatchalian said. “Kung gagawin ho yan or whatever facility ang ilalagay niyo ho doon sana ibalik ho sa national because we have already seen na hindi ho kaya ng ating mga local government units.Experts have a different view on Tulfo’s suggestion and on the issue of lowering the age.“Juvenile detention centers that are very harsh doesn&#x27;t work,” said Dr. Raymund Narag, Head Consultant of the Preso Foundation Associate. “It has a brutalization effect, it makes them hard, it’s not a deterrence because they don’t understand it and they make it worse for everyone.”Dr. Bernadette Madrid, Head and Director of the UP Philippine General Hospital – Child Protection Unit, meanwhile, said, “The problem here is not about the minimum age of criminal responsibility… The shooters here, yes, they should be punished but they’re also victims.”<div> </div><div>GUARDIANS’ ACCOUNTABILITY</div>Also present in the hearing was the aunt of “Nash” who is a cop.Police Staff Sergeant Arla Ray Paciencia said her nephew broke into her home and took her gun.“Nash unlawfully entered my own house, it’s not a room. It’s my own house. He forcibly damaged my locker, it was locked. My house was locked as well po,” Paciencia said.The locker was made of plastic and inside it was her gun box.Paciencia admitted that a safety vault should be used instead of a plastic locker.She also said she once took Nash target shooting.“He wanted to be a police officer and he was asking if I could bring him sa firing range,” Paciencia said.Badoria said if the shooters were victims, too, then their parents and guardians should be made accountable as well.Nash and Rod are under DSWD custody.“Yung sa 15 years old po, nandoon po siya sa facility namin until the sentencing and we will have to wait for that,” Gatchalian said.“Yung 14 years old ho, dadaan na ho siya sa intense ho na intervention din,” he added. “He is now detained in a youth facility. For as long as it takes na ma-rehabilitate siya at makitaan namin siya ng positibong pagbabago.”<div> </div><div>NIHILISTIC VIOLENT EXTREMISM</div>Also tackled int he hearing is the spread of nihilistic violent extremism, which, according to Committee Chairperson Senator Risa Hontiveros encourages kids to commit violence.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/1/cicc-many-school-shootings-connected-to-nihilistic-violent-extremist-groups-1711">READ: CICC: Many school shootings connected to nihilistic violent extremist groups</a></div>“May mga indikasyon po na ang naganap na pamamaril sa Tacloban ay may impluwensiya ng grupong tinatawag na 764. Ano ang 764? Nagsimula ito sa Texas, USA,” Hontiveros said.“Sabi mismo ng FBI, the leaders of the group are pushing victims to create graphic pornography, to harm family pets, to cut themselves with sharp objects or to even die by suicide,” she explained.The Philippine National Police (PNP) and experts said kids are usually targeted through online games, social media and content platforms.According to Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, “Kailangan natin talaga ng very specific law, madam Chair, to go after this type of groomers, this type of mga individuals. Maganda na bring up niyo yan and we would like to work with the DOJ on coming up with that specific law through the committee, of course.”

The mother of high school student Joyancee Separa became emotional as she faced the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, which is looking into the June 22 mass shooting in San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, Leyte, that killed her daughter.

The mother of high school student Joyancee Separa became emotional as she faced the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, which is looking into the June 22 mass shooting in San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, Leyte, that killed her daughter.

Kin of victims in Tacloban school shooting supports lower minimum age of criminal responsibility

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Kin of victims in Tacloban school shooting supports lower minimum age of criminal responsibility

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 01, 2026 06:36 PM PHT

Read More:

Tacloban school shooting

Senate

Risa Hontiveros

Raffy Tulfo

nihilistic violent extremism

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