MALAYBALAY CITY – The Educators Forum for Development (EFD)-Mindanao rejected calls on June 30 for increased police presence in schools and a lower age of criminal responsibility following a school shooting in Tacloban City that resulted in three deaths and 20 injuries.
The network’s position follows the identification of two minors as suspects in the attack, which occurred during the week of June 23, 2026. EFD-Mindanao contends that the state must prioritize the psychological wellbeing of students and address institutional failures in preventing juvenile delinquency rather than implementing punitive policies.
In an official statement, the group argued that the government should perform a “comprehensive review and overhaul of institutional failures in preventing juvenile delinquency,” saying this review should guide any future policy shifts in law enforcement, education, and social welfare.
Statistical Profile of Juvenile Offenses
To support its opposition to harsher penalties, EFD-Mindanao cited data from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on children in conflict with the law.
According to the network, the data indicates:
- Crimes committed by children account for only 2% of total recorded offenses nationwide.
- The vast majority of these juvenile offenses are categorized as “non-serious,” involving minor property and status offenses rather than violent crimes.
Sr. Concepcion Gasang, Lead Convenor of EFD-Mindanao and a member of the Missionaries of the Assumption, stated that the issue is not a failure of the youth, but a failure of the adults and the State, including gaps in social protection systems and school-based support services.
Gasang described school violence as a reflection of “a broader societal decay driven by historic, systemic poverty and injustice.” She argued that children have been exposed to “normalized violence,” from communities to online spaces, which distorts their understanding of consequences and accountability.
Opposition to School Militarization
The network specifically warned against the deployment of police forces within educational environments to manage behavioral issues, describing it as a step toward the “militarization” of campuses.
“Militarizing educational spaces is not a solution to youth anti-social behavior,” Gasang said. She added that targeting school children for police operations normalizes a punitive approach to behavioral health, which she stated runs counter to the principles of restorative justice and child protection embedded in existing Philippine law.
Prof. Mae Fe Ancheta-Templa, a licensed social worker, former DSWD Undersecretary, and EFD-Mindanao co-convenor, stated that prevention requires heavy State intervention in social services, mental health support, and community-based programs rather than altering the age of criminal responsibility. She emphasized that any policy shift after the Tacloban shooting should be anchored on evidence and existing child-rights standards, not public outrage.
Proposed Reforms to Juvenile Justice
EFD-Mindanao is calling for the strict implementation of Republic Act No. 9344, also known as the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, rather than amending the law to enforce harsher penalties or expand police powers in schools. The law created a comprehensive juvenile justice system and set the minimum age of criminal responsibility, with a focus on diversion, rehabilitation, and reintegration rather than incarceration.
The network outlined five specific demands for the government and local authorities:
- Funding for Existing Laws: Provide comprehensive financial and logistical support for victims and professional service providers, including social workers and psychologists, to increase school service capacities and ensure compliance with the mandates of RA 9344 and its implementing rules.
- Counseling Personnel: Establish dedicated budgets to hire school guidance counselors in all public schools, ensuring their roles are strictly limited to counseling and psychosocial support functions and not law enforcement or surveillance.
- LGU Empowerment: Hire and train dedicated social workers at the Local Government Unit (LGU) level to manage delinquency prevention, diversion programs, and support for violence survivors through facilities such as “Bahay Pag-asa” centers where applicable.
- Assessment Framework: Review and update the child discernment tool used to determine a minor’s understanding of right and wrong, aligning it with Filipino psychology and current jurisprudence to avoid arbitrary or discriminatory application.
- Preventive Investment: Fund programs focused on positive discipline, democratic schooling, and scientific parenting, with clear coordination among the Department of Education, DSWD, and LGUs.
Ancheta-Templa urged LGUs to pass ordinances that mobilize resources to fulfill the original intent of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, emphasizing the need for substantial, ring-fenced funding for mental health resources and community-based rehabilitation rather than carceral responses.
Context of Youth Exposure to Violence
The network’s concerns regarding the impact of violence on children align with recent efforts to document such experiences in Mindanao and other regions affected by conflict and the “war on drugs.” On June 18, an exhibit was launched at Eden Nature Park and Resort in Davao City featuring children’s artworks and case stories curated by child-rights advocates.
The exhibit showcased two publications: Voices Behind the Brush: Stories of Hope and Resilience and Real Stories of Broken and Mending Lives, both of which document the experiences of children affected by drug-related violence and state security operations as well as domestic abuse. Organizers said the project was designed to inform policy discussions on juvenile justice, trauma-informed education, and implementation of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act.
EFD-Mindanao concluded its statement by extending condolences to the families and victims of the Tacloban City shooting and called on lawmakers, national agencies, and LGUs to use the tragedy to strengthen – rather than roll back – the country’s child protection and juvenile justice framework.
