SENATOR Erwin Tulfo called for shared responsibility among schools, families, and society following the recent school shootings in Zamboanga City and Tacloban, Leyte, saying the incidents exposed collective failures to protect children.

During a hearing of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, Tulfo said security lapses, unreported threats, and poor communication between adults and children all contributed to the tragedies.

Tulfo criticized inconsistent security screening in schools, noting that students arriving on foot undergo strict inspections, while those entering in vehicles may receive only visual checks.

He said all threats, even those dismissed as jokes, should be treated as seriously as bomb threats at airports and immediately reported to authorities.

The senator also announced that he is filing a bill that would hold gun owners criminally liable if their firearms are accessed by minors and used to injure or kill others.

Under the proposed measure, negligent firearm owners could face charges of homicide through reckless imprudence.

Beyond legislation, Tulfo appealed to parents to spend more time talking to their children, stressing that academic or athletic achievements do not necessarily guarantee good mental health.

He noted that many young people silently struggle with depression and emotional distress, urging families to regularly ask their children how they are coping before it is too late.

Tulfo said the Zamboanga and Tacloban shootings should serve as a wake-up call, emphasizing that keeping children safe is a shared responsibility that involves everyone—not just parents and schools.