Jamaine Punzalan

Police gather at a school following a shooting in Zamboanga on August 18, 2026. Roel Parreno,  AFP

Article (news)

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178719403047820260818-school-shooting-ateneo-zamboanga-AFP.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Police gather at a school following a shooting in Zamboanga on August 18, 2026. Roel Parreno,  AFP </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday renewed his push to ban social media access for children under 16 years old in the wake of a deadly shooting at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University. </p><p>“Ang unang-unang pumasok sa aking pag-iisip ay ang mga estudyanteng Pilipino…hindi naman ganitong mga bayolenteng mag-aaral. Sa aking mga pag-aaral, pananaliksik, may mga nakakaimpluwensya sa mga mag-aaral natin na nagkakaroon sila ng hindi magandang ideya,” Gatchalian told DZMM. </p><p>“Kaya isa sa nakikita naming dapat pag-aralan nang masusi ay yung impluwensya ng social media, impluwensya ng internet, at impluwensya na rin ng tinatawag nating violent games.” </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/19/remulla-links-roblox-to-radicalization-after-zamboanga-shooting-1506">Remulla links Roblox to &#x27;radicalization&#x27; of children after deadly Zamboanga shooting </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/technology/2026/8/11/experts-weigh-social-media-age-limit-amid-debate-on-how-to-keep-children-safe-online-1942">Experts weigh social media age limit amid debate on how to keep children safe online</a><br/><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/19/beyond-school-security-angara-urges-communities-to-check-in-on-students-1530">Beyond school security: Angara urges communities to check in on students </a></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dlV20lNLwCw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Gatchalian noted that he earlier filed a bill seeking a social media ban for those under 16.  </p><p>“Ispo-sponsor na siya next week… Magkakaroon ng debate,” he said of the bill. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/26/child-rights-org-opposes-blanket-social-media-ban-for-minors-1717">Child rights org opposes blanket social media ban for minors </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/technology/2026/7/12/growing-list-of-countries-move-to-ban-social-media-for-children-1209">Growing list of countries move to ban social media for children </a></div><p>The Senate chief added that legislators should revisit laws on gun ownership, following reports that the firearms used in the Ateneo attackk belonged to the alleged shooter&#x27;s father, a Customs agent.</p><p>“Dulot ito ng kapabayaan sa pagtatago ng baril…Dapat maging responsable tayo sa pagtatago ng baril,” Gatchalian said. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/20/ateneo-de-zamboanga-provides-psychosocial-support-to-180-after-school-shooting-0024">Ateneo de Zamboanga provides psychosocial support to 180 individuals after school shooting </a><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/19/dilg-again-calls-for-stricter-gun-laws-in-wake-of-another-school-shooting-1246"></a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/19/dilg-again-calls-for-stricter-gun-laws-in-wake-of-another-school-shooting-1246">DILG calls for stricter gun laws in wake of Ateneo de Zamboanga shooting </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/8/18/what-we-know-so-far-about-the-ateneo-de-zamboanga-shooting-suspect-1214">What we know so far about the Ateneo de Zamboanga shooting suspect </a></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jK00yafQjVk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday renewed his push to ban social media access for children under 16 years old in the wake of a deadly shooting at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University.</p>

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday renewed his push to ban social media access for children under 16 years old in the wake of a deadly shooting at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University.

Gatchalian renews call for social media ban for minors after Ateneo De Zamboanga shooting

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Gatchalian renews call for social media ban for minors after Ateneo De Zamboanga shooting

Jamaine Punzalan

Published August 20, 2026 10:51 AM PHT

Read More:

Ateneo shooting

social media

social media ban

social media children

Ateneo de Zamboanga

Gatchalian

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