GABRIELA Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas sought a congressional inquiry of the allegations of sexual, verbal and emotional abuse committed by teachers and personnel of the Philippine High School for the Arts in Los Banos, Laguna.

She filed a resolution urging the House Committee on the Welfare of Children and Committee on Women and Gender Equality to look into the issue once the committee composition is finalized after the State of the Nation Address.

Brosas said the allegations of abuse call for serious reflections on how the Safe Spaces Act and other relevant laws on the protection of women and children are being enforced, especially in government-run schools.

While the school has released a statement about the alleged abuses, it did not say what action was taken on the complaints filed by the students before the school’s Committee on Decorum and Investigation, she said.

“We laud the courage of the victims in coming forward and speaking out against the culture of abuse in the secluded public school. We hope they can put an end to such string of offenses and strengthen policies in educational institutions to protect women and children from sexual harassment and abuse,” Brosas said.