Senator Bam Aquino has rejected proposals to impose a blanket ban on violent video games following the recent school shooting in Tacloban City, saying games have long been unfairly blamed for incidents of violence.
Aquino said studies have found no direct link between video games and school shootings, adding that games are a form of entertainment and should not be treated as the root cause of violent behavior.
Instead of banning video games, he urged authorities to strictly enforce age restrictions on mature-rated games, both in physical and online stores, to prevent children from accessing inappropriate content.
“Mas maraming studies na ginawa na nagsasabing walang correlation between video games and school shooting,” said Aquino, chairperson of the Committees on Basic Education and Science and Technology.
The senator also stressed that parents should monitor what their children play, while game developers must strengthen safeguards to protect young users from online predators and other harmful individuals.
Aquino likewise renewed his call for the passage of his proposed School Safety Act, which seeks to improve security in schools through measures such as more CCTV cameras, additional security personnel, and regular PTA meetings.IMT
