SENATOR Risa Hontiveros urged the government to address the root causes of violence affecting children as she condemned the school shooting in South Cotabato, describing the incident as heartbreaking.

Hontiveros also expressed her condolences to the victims and their families and said her office was ready to provide assistance to those affected.

The senator said school shootings must never become the country’s “new normal” and stressed the need for a comprehensive response.

Hontiveros said the response should include improving mental health services, strengthening parental supervision and school security, regulating access to firearms, addressing nihilistic violent extremism (NVE), and examining the role of online platforms in youth radicalization.

She also cited the proposed Sagip Bata Act, which she said seeks to strengthen the capacity of law enforcement agencies to combat NVE, while emphasizing that no single measure can solve the problem.

Hontiveros maintained that schools should remain places of learning and peace, where no child has to fear for their safety.