Senator Erwin Tulfo announced plans to convene a multisectoral meeting to review the nation’s juvenile justice laws, proposing that minors who commit serious offenses face harsher accountability and advocating for a social media ban for children 12 and younger.

Tulfo, who chairs the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, cited a recent high school shooting incident in Tacloban as a primary catalyst for the legislative review.

The lawmaker highlighted significant legal ambiguities in the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act and stressed the urgent need for dedicated rehabilitation infrastructure for young offenders rather than simply releasing them or placing them in adult prisons.

To address these legislative loopholes, Tulfo plans to summon a broad coalition of stakeholders, including lawyers, prosecutors, parents, educators, youth representatives, psychiatrists and officials from the Philippine National Police.

Drawing from his past experience as a police reporter, Tulfo recalled numerous instances where law enforcement arrested minors for severe crimes like armed robbery but lacked the legal framework to hold them.

Under current practices, prosecutors often order minors released for further investigation because of a lack of clear legal discernment.

“Who determines if there is discernment or not? Is it the prosecutor? Social psychologists? The social welfare department?” Tulfo said.

“We need to thoroughly study the law regarding the age of criminal liability to evaluate if it should be lowered. Victims do not agree with simply sending offenders home,” he added.

Tulfo also cited that minor offenders must undergo rehabilitation away from adult criminals to prevent further radicalization, suggesting the establishment of specialized facilities such as youth reception centers.

In tandem with the judicial review, Tulfo expressed support for restricting social media access for children aged 12 and younger, along with curbing access to violent online video games.

He cited that other nations, such as Australia, have already initiated similar digital restrictions for minors.