The Department of Education (DepEd) urged parents and law enforcement agencies Wednesday to strengthen gun safety measures following a series of firearm-related incidents involving children, including the accidental shooting of a nine-year-old student in General Santos City.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the latest incident highlights the danger posed by children’s access to firearms and renewed concerns over gun safety inside and outside school grounds.

“Learners’ safety does not end at the school gates. It begins in our homes,” Angara said in a statement.

According to DepEd, a nine-year-old child was critically injured 3 August when a .38-caliber pistol accidentally discharged while the child and a 13-year-old companion were playing inside a home in General Santos City.

The department noted that the incident follows a pattern of firearm cases involving minors, including a fatal school shooting in Tacloban City on 22 June and separate instances where students were caught carrying handguns on campus.

Angara called on the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement agencies to enforce responsible gun ownership measures, including stricter background checks, home inspections of firearm storage, and operations to curb illegal weapons.

DepEd also urged parents and guardians to educate children on gun safety, stressing that minors should be taught never to handle firearms and to immediately notify adults if they find one.

The agency reiterated that firearms, ammunition, bladed weapons, and explosives remain prohibited in all schools and school activities under DepEd Order No. 006, series of 2026, which outlines guidelines for safe learning environments.

Under the order, schools must tighten campus security, conduct risk assessments, coordinate with police when weapons are detected and provide psychosocial support for students affected by violent incidents.

DepEd added that the incidents reinforce the need to limit children’s access to weapons and maintain schools as zones of peace.