FOLLOWING a tragic school shooting in Zamboanga City that left two students dead, Senator Bam Aquino is calling for tighter enforcement of video game age ratings and a ban on minor access to online chat groups, pushing back against broad calls to outlaw video games entirely.
Aquino, who chairs the Senate Committee on Basic Education, emphasized that research consistently shows video games are not the root cause of violent behavior in youth.
Instead of banning first-person shooter games, he advocated applying an age-classification framework akin to those used for television and film.
“There’s an age restriction on movies and television shows. We need to look at stronger age restrictions when it comes to violent games,” Aquino said, proposing that penalties be levied against developers or parents who permit minors to access mature-rated titles.
Pointedly shifting focus away from gaming mechanics, the lawmaker highlighted unmonitored digital communication hubs as primary vectors for harm.
“It’s the chat groups. It’s the lack of controls when it comes to the infiltration of chat groups,” he noted, warning that these spaces often expose young people to violent or extremist content.
To address digital threats, Aquino referenced his proposed Digital Safety for Minors Act (Senate Bill No. 2299), which seeks to prohibit children under 15 from accessing social media platforms and online messaging groups.
The measure aims to curb online radicalization while protecting youth mental health.
On physical security, Aquino is urging the swift passage of Senate Bill No. 2390, or the Comprehensive School Safety Act, drafted in response to recent violence in Tacloban City and Zamboanga City.
The legislation would mandate enhanced campus security—including metal detectors, mandatory bag checks, additional CCTV coverage, and trained personnel—alongside localized emergency response protocols.
As vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, Aquino guaranteed that funding will be secured to equip educational institutions if the measure passes. “It’s a matter of political will,” he assured.
