SENATE Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri has called for stricter restrictions on children’s access to social media and a review of the country’s juvenile justice laws following the deadly shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City.

Zubiri expressed condolences to the families of the victims and urged authorities to take decisive action to address the factors that may have contributed to the tragedy.

“A school, being our children’s second home, should be one of the safest places for our students,” Zubiri said, stressing that parents should not have to worry about their children’s safety whenever they go to school.

The senator pointed to the growing influence of social media on young people, warning that exposure to violent content, online threats, dangerous trends, and hateful behavior can shape the attitudes and actions of children.

“This tragedy should push us to confront a hard truth: the influence of social media on children has become overwhelming,” he said.

Zubiri reiterated his support for proposals to ban or strictly limit social media access for young children, arguing that minors are particularly vulnerable to harmful online content.

He cited the proposed Social Media Safety for Children Act, which seeks to prohibit children below 16 years old from registering, accessing, or maintaining social media accounts.

The lawmaker also noted that several countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Greece, Spain, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates, have implemented or are considering stricter age restrictions and stronger online protections for minors.

Beyond online safety, Zubiri called for a review of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, particularly in cases involving serious crimes committed by minors.

He said lawmakers should examine whether minors as young as 14 who commit heinous crimes such as murder, rape, and other grave offenses should be tried as adults, while still upholding due process and considering issues of discernment and rehabilitation.

At the same time, Zubiri stressed the need to determine how a firearm was brought onto school grounds and identify the security lapses that may have contributed to the incident.

He said Congress is prepared to assess whether additional funding is needed for school security personnel, equipment, training programs, inspection systems, and screening procedures.

Among the measures he proposed are strengthened bag inspection procedures at school entrances for students, personnel, visitors, and other individuals entering school premises, while ensuring that such inspections are conducted respectfully and with dignity.

Zubiri urged concerned government agencies to move swiftly in strengthening school security, enhancing online protections for children, and preventing similar tragedies in the future.

“My prayers are with the families of the victims as they seek comfort, justice, and peace,” he said. “We must act with urgency to protect our children and ensure that no other family experiences this kind of heartbreak again.”