Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino on Monday rejected calls to ban or restrict violent video games following the Tacloban City school shooting that left three students dead and several others injured.
In a statement, Aquino said video games should not be blamed for violent incidents, citing numerous studies that found no correlation between video games and school shootings. He described video games as an art form and entertainment medium that does not cause violent behavior.
Aquino said proposals to ban or restrict violent video games are unfair, arguing that video games have repeatedly been used as convenient scapegoats whenever violent incidents occur.
His statement came after Malacanang earlier said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was open to proposals restricting or banning violent online games amid concerns over their possible influence on minors.
Instead of a blanket ban, Aquino pushed for stricter enforcement of age restrictions on mature-rated games, similar to existing rules covering films and television programs.
‘Maraming games na hindi pambata. Maybe what we can clarify is kung meron man mas maging strikto,, dapat mas istrikto yung access ng mga bata sa mga mature video games…Magfi-50 years na rin yung mga video games, pero it’s always a convenient scapegoat sa tuwing may nangyayaring insidente ng karahasan
Aquino said video game stores and online stores should strictly enforce rules on children’s access to mature video games.
“Pero (But) banning video games in general or as a whole, I don’t think that’s a good solution to our problems,” he added.
He said parents also have a critical role in monitoring the games their children access and making sure they are exposed only to age-appropriate content.
Aquino also said game developers have the responsibility to make online gaming platforms safer, especially those intended for children, by strengthening safeguards against online predators, extremist groups, and other harmful individuals.
“Dahil pambata yan, yung developers mayroon silang responsibility na ma-monitor, ma-check at ma-ban yung mga predators o yung mga tao doon na may masasamang balak
(Because they are for children, game developers should be responsible for monitoring, checking, and banning predators or individuals who have evil intentions),” he added.
Aquino is also pushing for the passage of his proposed School Safety Act to strengthen protection for students, teachers, and other school personnel in the wake of the Tacloban City shooting.
His proposals include the installation of CCTV cameras, the deployment of additional barangay tanods and security personnel, and regular Parent-Teacher Association meetings to discuss school safety concerns and other preventive measures.
Meanwhile, Sen. Raffy Tulfo welcomed the Department of Education’s announcement of nationwide school safety measures following the shooting, but said the move came too late because he had long recommended similar actions.
Tulfo recalled that during the Committee on Basic Education hearing on August 12 last year, he proposed strengthening security in public schools by equipping security guards with hand-held metal detectors, a proposal supported by DepEd Undersecretary Filimon Javier.
In another committee hearing on March 17 this year, Tulfo said he recommended the installation of CCTV cameras in classrooms and other common areas.
He said those recommendations remained unimplemented by the DepEd.
Tulfo said that after the Tacloban City shooting incident on June 22, he called Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara to follow up on his proposals, with the secretary assuring him that the department would act on the recommendations as soon as possible.
“Bagama’t umaksiyon ang DepEd, ang tanong ay bakit ngayon lang? Dati ko pang iminumungkahi ang mga ito, pero bakit kinakailangan pang maraming buhay ang masayang bago sila kumilos?
(Although the DepEd acted, the question is why only now? I have long suggested these measures, but the DepEd acted only when lives had already been lost),” He added.
Tulfo said the recent violent incidents in schools should remind the government to be proactive and not wait for similar incidents before authorities take action.