Legarda pushes stricter gun safekeeping as another school shooting hits South Cotabato

Senator Loren Legarda renewed her push for stricter firearm safekeeping and greater accountability of gun owners following another deadly school shooting at Banga National High School in South Cotabato.

The September 18 incident came less than a month after the shooting at Atendeo de Zamboanga University and less than three months after the shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City.

“Hindi maaaring sa bawat pamamaril ay mag-iimbestiga tayo, magluluksa, at pagkatapos ay maghihintay na naman hanggang sa may panibagong paaralang tamaan. Tacloban, Zamboanga, at ngayon South Cotabato. May malinaw nang babala na may mga kahinaan sa ating sistema na kailangang ayusi ng agaran,” Legarda said.

Legarda filed SBN 2472, seeking to strengthen Republic Act No. 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, by providing clearer and more comprehensive standards on the responsibility and accountability of firearm owners and licensees for the proper safekeeping, storage, and control of their firearms.

The measure takes on renewed urgency following the three school shootings. The June 22 Tacloban shooting reportedly involved a PNP-issued service forearm accessed by a minor relative of the accountable officer, while the August 18 Zamboanga shooting involved a firearm issued to a Bureau of Customs personnel who is the father of the minor involved. On September 18, another shooting occurred at Banga National HIgh School in South Cotabato. Authorities are still investigating the circumstances of the latest attack.

Legarda stressed that the recurring incidents require authorities to look beyond the identity of the shooter and determine how a firearm became accessible in the first place.

“HIndi sapat na malaman lamang kung sino ang namaril. Kailangan nating malaman kung paano nakuha ang baril, paano ito naipasok sa paaralan, kung may mga babalang hindi napansin o hindi naaksyunan, at kung may taong nagpabaya sa responsibilidad niyang ingatan ang armas na ipinagkatiwala sa kanya,” Legarda said.

Under SBN 2472, firearms must be kept in a vault, locked container, or other secure storage facility when not under the owner’s immediate possession and control. Where minors reside or are regularly present, owners must exercise heightened diligence and keep keys, combinations, biometric credentials, and other means of access beyond their reach.

“Kung may baril sa bahay, hindi dapat maging kampante sa pagtatabi nito. Hindi sapat na basta ito itago sa drawer, cabinet, o lugar na inaakalang hindi gagalawin. Ang may-ari ng baril ang may responsibilidad na tiyaking hindi ito maabot o magagamit ng bata o sinumang walang pahintulot. Kapag nagpabaya, dapat may malinaw na pananagutan, “ Legarda said.

For government-issued firearms, the Bill requires issuing agencies to provide compliant vaults, as public officers entrusted with firearms are expected to exercise the highest degree of diligence. Government agencies must also conduct physical inventories and audits of their firearms at least once every six months.

The measure also shortens the period for reporting firearms that are lost, stolen, or accessed without authorization from 30 days to 24 hours from discovery, while expressly prohibiting warrantless house-to-house inspections or entry into private premises without valid consent or lawful process.

“A missing firearm cannot be treated like an ordinary lost item. Thirty days gives too much time for a weapon to change hands or be used in a crime. Reporting must be prompt so authorities can respond immediately and prevent further harm,” Legarda said.

“A firearm carries power over life and death. That is why owning one must carry an equally serious duty of care,” she added.

The four-term Senator further called for school security protocols, and the availability of timely mental health and psychosocial intervention for students.

“Kung may batas ngunit hindi naipatutupad nang maayos, dapat managot ang nagpabaya. Kung may kakulangan sa batas, dapat itong punan ng Kongreso. At kung may babalang nakita ngunit hindi naaksyunan, kailangan nating malaman kung bakit. Hindi sapat na malaman lamang kung sino ang namaril. Kailangan nating malaman kung paano natin hinayaang umabot sa puntong may baril na namang nakapasok sa isang paaralan,” Legarda said.

Legarda stressed that SBN 2472 addresses a specific and preventable risk by making firearm owners and custodians directly responsible for keeping weapons away from unauthorized users, particularly minors.

“Hindi natin maibabalik ang mga buhay na nawala. Ngunit may magagawa tayo upang hindi na madagdagan ang mga pamilyang kailangang pagdaanan ito. Pagkatapos ng Tacloban, Zamboanga, at ngayon South Cotabato, hindi na maaaring sabihing hindi natin nakita ang babala,” Legarda concluded. (30)