In the heels of the gruesome killing that happened inside a high school in Tacloban City, a supposed second home of learners, a question was raised: What is going on with our youth and students today?

On 22 June, three innocent lives were snuffed out when two minors, aged 14 and 15, went berserk and shot students inside their classrooms — a situation that had only ever happened in the United States.

The incident rekindled the need to amend the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility and striking out criminal liability exemptions for minors aged 10 to 17 who commit heinous crimes.

According to sociologists, trimming the age of criminal responsibility can lead to institutionalization, as pushing young offenders into adult detention centers risks severe stigmatization, which can increase the likelihood of repeat offenses (recidivism) rather than successful reintegration into society.

The issue also alarmed Malacañang Palace, prompting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to call for a united national effort to safeguard Filipino children, urging

government agencies, schools, parents, teachers and communities to work together to ensure that every child grows up in a safe and nurturing environment following a series of heartbreaking incidents involving students.

The President cited the recent school shooting in Tacloban City, fatal stabbing incidents inside schools in Cavite, and the deaths of two student-athletes during a team-building activity, saying that while the circumstances differed, they carried the same urgent message — protect the youth.