Senate OKs bills protecting children vs online abuse, school violence

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Two key bills promoting the protection of children from online abuse, exploitation and ensuring safer school environments have been passed on third and final reading by the Senate on Monday.

During session, the Comprehensive School Safety Act and the SAGIP BATA Act were approved after both measures received 17 affirmative votes, with zero negative votes and no abstentions.

Senate Bill No. 2426 or the Comprehensive School Safety Act, seeks to institutionalize a framework for preventing, responding to, and recovering from violence and other safety threats in schools.

The measure was passed following several fatal school shooting incidents across the country, the most recent occurring just three days ago in Banga, South Cotabato.

Senator Bam Aquino, the principal sponsor and a co-author of the bill, previously explained that the proposed framework is structured around three main pillars: prevention, response, and recovery.

Senator Raffy Tulfo, who supported the bill, highlighted several key provisions, including the installation of CCTV cameras in classrooms and common areas, as well as the provision of counseling and psychological support in coordination with the Department of Health.

“I firmly believe that none of us deserve to learn and teach in fear,” Tulfo said.

Senator Robin Padilla, who likewise supported the school safety measure, shared his views on school violence in the country, pointing out that recent school shooting incidents are “not part of Asian culture.”

“Hindi po kultura ng Asyano ang pumunta sa isang paaralan at mamaril. Hindi lang mamaril ah—manalsal pa po yung iba. Ito po ay kultura ng ibang nasyon [at] ibang lahi,” Padilla said.

(It is not in Asian culture to go to a school and shoot people. Not just shoot—some even commit acts of violence. This is a culture from other nations and other races.)

SAGIP BATA Act

The upper chamber also approved on Monday SB No. 1819 or the Safeguarding Against Grooming, Inducement and Predation, and Building Accountability for Technology-Facilitated Abuse or Exploitation (SAGIP BATA) Act.

Once signed into law, the measure will replace Republic Act No. 11930 or the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and the Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act.

It establishes a stronger preventive framework to protect children from grooming, exploitation, and manipulation across both physical and digital platforms.

The bill aims to bolster child protection safeguards, regulatory protocols, and enforcement mechanisms to combat technology-facilitated sexual abuse, the proliferation of child sexual abuse material, and the orchestration of serious violent crimes against minors.

It also addresses emerging threats, including the use of artificial intelligence to generate sexualized content or exploit children.

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, who voted in favor of the measure, underscored the specific acts the law criminalizes that include grooming, luring, child sexual extortion, image-based sexual abuse, sexualization of children, livestreaming, and the creation and distribution of CSAEM.

“Kinilala ng panukala na hindi kinakailangang magkaroon ng pisikal na contact ang isang salarin para lubhang mapinsala ang isang bata,” Pangilinan said.

(The measure recognizes that a perpetrator does not need physical contact to inflict grave harm on a child.)

The measure, as Pangilinan cited, also holds tech companies and private businesses operating in the digital sphere accountable.

SAGIP BATA Act mandates that online platforms, internet intermediaries, payment service providers, and virtual asset providers implement strict safety protocols, including age verification systems. — BAP, GMA News