Senate panel probes into Tacloban shooting

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate panel on women, children, family relations and gender equality opened a hearing on Wednesday to look into the fatal school shooting in Tacloban City.

Presided over by the panel’s head, Sen. Risa Hontiveros, the hearing seeks to identify links between violent and extremist messaging in online gaming platforms and minor-incited violence, and to ensure that safeguards are in place for younger audiences.

“All of us here are saddened and mourning and worried along with their families. I have no doubt that immediate action is needed in this tragedy,” Hontiveros said in her opening statement.

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READ: GoreBox declines Senate invite on Tacloban shooting probe

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She continued: “But we suffer more if we don’t look at it through multiple angles. We know that this disaster is caused by a cluster of deficiencies in our systems.”

The shooting incident in a school in Tacloban City was executed by two minors, which led to the passing of three other minors and the injury of at least 13 others.

One of the suspects was supposedly playing the video game Gorebox prior to the fatal event, while another suspect allegedly posted content on gun shooting.

Hontiveros was joined by the panel’s vice chair, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, and Sen. Raffy Tulfo.

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Present during the hearing was the aunt of one of the suspects, PSSg. Arla Ray Pacencia, whose registered firearm was supposedly used for the shooting.

Relatives of the victims of the Tacloban shooting, including the mother of one of the students who is still at the hospital, were likewise present during the hearing.

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Moreover, the parents of Boy Scout Chris Lorenz Fabian, who was shot during the incident, Erbea and Christopher Fabian, were attending online only a day after the 15-year-old victim was laid to rest.

The parents of Yancee Separa, Jennelyn Badoria, and Jamie Separa also attended the hearing online. Yancee was 15 when she was killed.

Though her relatives were not present, Ayessha Nicole Dazo was honored during the hearing as she was among the three who passed away during the shooting. She was 14 years old.

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The senator also invited the Department of Social Welfare and Development Sec. Rex Gatchalian, representatives of the Department of Justice, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, the Department of Education, and the Philippine National Police. /mr