Remulla seeks full liability for gun owners, limits on children’s internet use after South Cotabato school incident
Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla has called on Congress to amend existing gun laws to hold firearm owners more accountable, including allowing police to inspect homes to ensure that firearms are properly stored and secured.
In a Sept. 19 press conference, Remulla said the agency would push for a petition before the Supreme Court to allow the Philippine National Police to inspect the homes of legal firearm owners to ensure their guns are properly stored.
"I’m very heavy on illegal firearms pero yung legal firearms, the Supreme Court ruled na hindi kami puwedeng mag-inspeksiyon sa loob ng bahay. I will call upon to make a petition sa Supreme Court to make it legal for the PNP to inspect the home for legal firearm users to make sure that they are kept properly,” he said.
He noted that in three school shootings, a common denominator among the perpetrators was that they used legally owned firearms belonging to government employees that were not properly secured.
“There has to be a right for the state to inspect the gun owners’ residence kung tama ang storage nila ng baril,” Remulla said, noting that the Supreme Court has ruled that home inspection is disallowed. “We should have the power to inspect without a warrant.”
Remulla said that they're in the process of creating the draft of the legislation, noting that the existing ones are "weak."
"I call upon Congress to change the laws na pati ang rightful gun owner is responsible for the use or for the possession of a gun 100% of the timem" he said. "It has to be legislated na ang liability ng gun owner is equal to what was committed."
Remulla also urged parents to closely monitor their children’s internet use, saying that preventing tragic incidents like these starts at home.
“Tingnan niyo po ang sine-search nila,” Remulla said. “Tignan niyo po. It is not a privacy issue. Anak niyo ‘yan. Dapat alam niyo tinitignan nila.”
“The bigger issue is the use of the internet of children. Nakikita natin dito na kung unsupervised, saan-saan sila pumupunta at naiimpluwensyahan ‘yung mga bata,” Remulla added.
Remulla said he would coordinate with the Department of Information and Communications Technology to address the issue and would consider seeking congressional action to limit children’s access to social media, similar to measures implemented in Australia.
“Now they have access to the dark web; satanism, nihilism, anti-LGBT, chat groups encouraging you to commit crimes and be glorified, ‘yan ang nangyari dito,” he said.
Remulla said the DILG had met with game developers, noting that children often use separate platforms, such as Meta, to communicate while playing video games, further underscoring the need for legislation.
South Cotabato school shooting
A shooting incident at the Banga National High School in South Cotabato occurred on Friday, Sept. 18, at around 1 p.m., leaving three dead.
Remulla said authorities found that the perpetrator, who was also a student, had been accessing the dark web, which influenced him, and had left notes detailing his depression that his parents discovered in April 2026. He said the parents had tried to address the situation but fell short.
“Records show that he’s into heavy activities [on] social media as well as internet activities showing violent activities,” Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez said.
Remulla said there was no record of the suspect visiting a gun range. He added that authorities, in coordination with the parents, are examining the suspect’s belongings, including notes, phones, and other gadgets, for forensic investigation.
He noted that on the day of the incident, two police officers were stationed outside the school and checked the suspect’s bag, but apparently failed to notice the firearm he had hidden behind his back. He further said that the perpetrator left a note indicating that he had planned the attack, but the victims seemed to have been chosen randomly.
As of Sept. 19, Remulla said three Grade 9 students, including the shooter, had been confirmed dead. Eight others were injured, with two in serious condition and six in stable condition.
He also urged the community and government to come together and take action to prevent similar incidents.
“Depression is real. Depression among kids is real. And we must give the warning signs and we must give access to proper psychiatric health care,” Remulla said.
Marcos orders probe
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. earlier called for stronger measures to keep students safe, saying school shootings should never become a normal part of children’s lives.
“Hindi natin maaaring tanggapin na maging bahagi na lamang ng buhay ng ating mga anak ang mga pamamaril sa paaralan. Karapatan ng ating mga anak na makapag-aral nang walang takot. Karapatan ng mga magulang na maipadala sila sa paaralan nang alam na uuwi silang ligtas. Ito ang pananagutan natin sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino,” Marcos added in a statement.
He has also ordered a thorough investigation into the shooting.
