DOJ: Vigilance, looking for patterns could prevent potential school violence

Authorities have successfully prevented incidents of school violence from taking place, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said Thursday.

According to Vida, such incidents can be prevented, as there is a pattern in previous incidents where perpetrators would announce their intention beforehand. He cited the three school shooting incidents in Tacloban City, Zamboanga City, and Banga.

“Nag-a-announce muna, eh. Kaya sinabi ko maging mapagmatyag. Si Kuya, si Ate, si Tatay, si Nanay kasi nag-a-announce muna sila bago nila gawin. So may pagkakataon tayo na masawatan ‘yung nangyayari,” he said in a press briefing.

(They announce first. That’s why I said to be vigilant. Older brother, older sister, father, mother, because they announce first before they do it. So we have an opportunity to stop what is happening.)

“At naging successful na tayo. I just cannot give you details. I’ve been receiving reports. I saw reports. I read reports. Marami tayong successful na operations preventing ‘yung potential na incident,” he added.

(And we have already been successful. I just cannot give you details. I’ve been receiving reports. I saw reports. I read reports. We have had many successful operations preventing potential incidents.)

When asked how many incidents were prevented, Vida said the department will consolidate the reports.

Vida also said that authorities continue to monitor “groomers,” but the DOJ declined to give details as this is an ongoing operation.

Justice Undersecretary Michelle Ann Lapuz said that the Batang Ligtas Act was recently approved by the Senate and House of Representatives.

She said the bill expanded the coverage regarding the protection of children to include online recruitment, grooming, inducement of children to commit violent acts, as well as abuses involving artificial intelligence.

Lapuz stressed the importance of a whole-of-nation approach.

“Lahat may kanya-kanyang role dito. At ang batang ligtas, dine-define ‘yung roles ng bawat sector and the accountabilities kapag hindi na perform ‘yung mga responsibilities,” she said.

(Everyone has their own role here. And a child’s safety defines the roles of each sector and the accountabilities when the responsibilities are not performed.)

Lapuz expressed hope that the law will be passed before the National Children’s Month in November.

For his part, Vida called on parents to exercise their parental authority and to do their parental responsibility over their children.

He said that online platforms have tools that will allow parents to be informed about their children.

“Unfortunately, ang laging attitude lang ng magulang, ay hindi ko alam ‘yan. Bahala na siya. So itong mga bagay na ito, kapag hindi i-a-avail o hindi i-exercise ng magulang ang kanyang parental authority, hindi lang ito authority, and responsibility,” he said.

(Unfortunately, the usual attitude of parents is, “I don’t know about that. Let him be.” So these things, when the parent does not avail of or exercise their parental authority, it is not just authority; it is also a responsibility.)

“It’s not just about the authority. It’s about the responsibility. Hindi lang dahil naipanganak na ‘yan okay na ‘yan. Hindi dahil binabayaran mo ‘yung tuition, okay na ‘yan. Kailangan tayong magbantay. Kailangan natin bantayan at kalingain sila at gampanan natin kung ano ‘yung responsibillidad,” he added.

(It’s not just about the authority. It’s about the responsibility. Just because they have been born, that’s not enough. Just because you pay their tuition, that’s not enough. We need to watch over them. We need to watch over and care for them and fulfill our responsibilities.) —AOL, GMA News