The parents of the suspect, and the school where the stabbing incident of a Grade 8 student occurred, face civil liabilities under the law, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said.

Gatchalian pointed this out as he expressed his dismay over the death of a 14-year old student who was stabbed to death by her male classmate inside school premises.

“Under the civil code, mayroon silang (they face) civil liability. Ibig sabihin, pwede silang ma-demanda at pwede silang pagmultahin dito sa mga pangyayaring ito (Which means, they can be charged and also penalized over this incident),” Gatchalian said in an interview on Radio DZBB.

“Kaya hindi pwedeng maghugas kamay ang ating mga magulang dahil mayroon silang pananagutan, may liability rin sila dito sa pangyayari ito (So the parents of the suspect can't wash their hands off of it because they have a responsibility, they also have liability in this incident),” he stressed.

“Kaya kung magdedemanda yung kabilang panig at idamay yung mga magulang. Yung mga magulang mismo ay pwedeng pagbayadin dito sa nangyari (So if the other side sues and includes the parents. The parents themselves can be made to pay for what happened),” he said.

Even under the Family Code, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education said the school where the incident occurred will also be held accountable.

“Pati eskwelahan meron pananugatan dito. Dahil ang konsepto natin, pag ang mga bata ay pinapasok sa eskwelahan, yung mga pamunuan ng eskwelahan, sila na ngayon ang nagiging second parents (Even schools have a responsibility here. Because our concept is that when children are admitted to school, the school administration, they now become the second parents),” the senator stressed.

“So ibig sabihin ay may responsibilidad sa lahat ng pangyayari sa loob at sa labas man ng eskwelahan. Kaya kung napatunayan na yung eskwelahan ay pabaya, meaning hinayaan nilang magdala ng mga deadly weapon o hindi nila pinigilan itong nangyari, pati yung guro at yung punongguro, meron pananugutan dito (So that means there is responsibility for all events inside and outside the school. So if it is proven that the school was negligent, meaning they allowed deadly weapons to be brought in or they did not prevent this from happening, even the teacher and the principal, there is responsibility here),” he explained.

Nevertheless, Gatchalian acknowledged the swift action of authorities in apprehending the suspect and turning him over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“Still, justice must be served. I call on schools to strengthen security, and parents to take a more active role in instilling discipline to prevent violence,” the lawmaker stressed in a statement.