Remulla urges Congress to tighten gun control laws after Tacloban school shooting

Interior Secretary Calls for Stronger Gun Laws

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla has urged Congress to strengthen gun control laws in the Philippines after the deadly Tacloban school shooting on June 22. During a press briefing on June 25, Remulla highlighted how current rules leave gun owners with minimal accountability despite the millions of registered firearms in the country.

He specifically recommended that Congress rewrite the implementing rules and regulations of gun ownership. Remulla also called for the addition of criminal liability provisions covering the illegal use or transfer of firearms. These steps, he argued, would address gaps that currently limit accountability in firearm-related incidents.

The Tacloban Shooting: Three Students Dead, 20 Injured

The June 22 shooting at a school in Tacloban left three students dead and 20 others injured. Two suspects, aged 14 and 15, carried out the attack using firearms obtained from relatives. At least 34 bullets were fired during the incident, with the younger suspect having time to change magazines multiple times.

The 14-year-old suspect used a caliber .38 Armscor revolver owned by a security agency in Cebu City. He also fired a 9mm Glock 17 that had been issued to a policewoman assigned to Police Regional Office 8, who is his aunt. The 15-year-old suspect obtained his weapon from his grandfather, a former security guard. Philippine National Police confirmed these details about the firearms used in the attack.

"Bitin ang Batas": Why Authorities Cannot File Criminal Charges

Remulla stated that authorities cannot file criminal charges against the gun owners involved because the law is limited. "Wala kaming ma-charge dahil bitin ang batas," he said in Filipino. Under current provisions, the owners face only civil charges. The police officer whose Glock 17 was used can be charged only with malversation — an offense that does not address the deadly consequences of the firearm's misuse.

Gun ownership in the Philippines is regulated by the Philippine National Police under Republic Act No. 10591, the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act. The law sets guidelines allowing individuals at least 21 years old to apply for licenses. Section 29 of the law defines "loose firearms" and treats their use in a crime as an aggravating circumstance. Remulla noted that despite these rules, culpability for gun owners remains minimal when firearms end up in unauthorized hands — especially those of minors.

Second Threat Thwarted: Another Leyte School Targeted

Separately, authorities stopped another possible mass shooting in Leyte after Senator Bam Aquino alerted Remulla about online chatter. A 14-year-old Grade 10 student at Tolosa National High School was taken into custody on the night of June 24 for creating multiple Facebook accounts to spread threats of violence.

The minor's actions appeared to be influenced by the June 22 Tacloban shooting, according to Remulla's initial investigation. The student had also played the game GoreBox, which the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center has temporarily banned after finding that the Tacloban suspects had also played it before the attack. Because the minor is below 15 years old, she was turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development rather than jailed.

Human Impact: Families, Barangays, and School Communities on Edge

The Tacloban shooting has sent shockwaves through school communities across Leyte and the entire country. Ordinary Filipino families — those whose children ride jeepneys to school each morning, whose mothers sell goods at sari-sari stores, whose barangay captains organize community safety patrols — now face the reality that school grounds can become sites of violence.

The relatives who legally owned the firearms involved now confront civil liability, while the absence of stronger criminal provisions leaves many questions unanswered for the victims' families. The three students who lost their lives had families who now must bury their children — a tragedy compounded by the knowledge that legal loopholes may prevent full accountability.

What Comes Next: Congress, the PNP, and the Road to Reform

Remulla's statements connect the Tacloban events to ongoing discussions in Congress about updating Republic Act No. 10591. Lawmakers are being asked to consider clearer rules on accountability when licensed firearms are accessed by unauthorized individuals, particularly minors.

The separate Tolosa case shows how online threats can quickly escalate after high-profile incidents. Authorities acted on information from Senator Bam Aquino, leading to the detention of the 14-year-old student before further harm occurred. These developments highlight the role of timely reporting and inter-agency coordination involving the Philippine National Police, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and local government units.

For the meantime, school communities across the Philippines — from Metro Manila to the provinces — remain vigilant. Parents, teachers, and local officials continue to watch for warning signs, hoping that legal reforms will follow before another tragedy strikes. As Remulla put it, the current framework is not enough: "Bitin ang batas." The question now is whether Congress will act to close the gaps.

(Global 1 News)

By Bella Reyes, Staff Writer