Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday, June 23 announced that the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality will launch its initial inquiry into the fatal shooting at the San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, Leyte on July 1, 2026.

Hontiveros said the Senate probe will look closely into the growing threat of online radicalization among children, continuing the committee’s earlier investigation into the online platforms and gaming spaces that are allegedly being used to groom, manipulate and radicalize children into violence.

“On July 1, we will reopen the hearing to determine whether online platforms play a role in the spread of violent ideas. They are becoming a breeding ground for groups that brainwash and radicalize children,” said Hontiveros, head of the Senate women and children’s panel.

“We will again look at whether all online platforms are doing enough to prevent young people from being exploited,” she said.

The senator recalled that during the April 14 hearing, it was revealed that some online and gaming platforms have been used not only for violent radicalization, but also for online sexual abuse, exploitation, grooming and extortion of children.

If the internet is being used to victimize children, the lawmaker said someone must be held accountable.

"We cannot afford to keep Big Tech thinking while our families and schools are engulfed in tragedy,” she said.

"We will not wait for the next victim to take action. Every child should be able to go to school safely and return home safely to their families,” she stressed.

Review existing youth-related laws, mental health interventions

In a related note, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Youth, urged lawmakers to review existing youth-related laws, school safety rules, and mental health programs in response to the shooting incident.

“I will seriously take a look into this issue. If there’s anything that needs to be amended in the current law, such as the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, as amended, and its regulations, let’s fix it immediately,” Go said.

“Let’s not wait for another tragedy to happen,” he said.

Go also said it is imperative for authorities to determine how the firearm was obtained and brought inside the school, especially following reports that the suspects were minors. 

“As chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth, I call on all appropriate government agencies to conduct an immediate and full investigation on how these suspects were able to bring guns inside the school premises considering that they are minors,” the senator said.

“I also urge the public not to spread wrong or unverified information so as not to scare the public,” he said.

Parent Effectiveness Service (PES) program

For his part, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian called for the activation of the Parent Effectiveness Service (PES) program to address the escalation of violence in schools nationwide.

Gatchalian, author of the Parent Effectiveness Service Program Act or Republic Act No. 11908, said the law provides that the PES program be used to strengthen the knowledge and skills of parents and parent-substitutes in responding to their parental duties and responsibilities, including the protection and promotion of children’s rights, among others.

“If we are serious about ending violence in our schools, the solution should start inside our homes,” Gatchalian said.