SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday strongly condemned the brutal beating of a nine-year-old Grade 3 student in Iligan City, who is now confined in an intensive care unit.

“To say that I am outraged over the beating of a nine-year-old Grade 3 student in Iligan City, who is currently in the intensive care unit, is an understatement,” Gatchalian said in a statement.

The senator expressed alarm over reports that the attackers were allegedly high school students, stressing that such incidents highlight the worsening violence among the youth.

“Tila palala na nang palala ang karahasang kayang gawin ng ating mga mag-aaral sa murang edad. Saan na napunta ang mabuting asal at pagpapahalaga sa kapwa na dapat ay hinuhubog ng pamilya, paaralan, at komunidad?” he added.

Gatchalian urged local authorities to act swiftly in arresting those responsible and ensuring that justice is served without delay.

“This is not just a matter of discipline—it is a matter of safety, morality, and the kind of society we are shaping for the next generation,” he stressed.