Senator Bam Aquino rejects calls to ban video games blanketly, emphasizing lack of evidence linking games to violence and urging focus on comprehensive school safety measures.
Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aguirre Aquino IV has publicly rejected proposals advocating for a blanket ban on video games after the tragic shooting incident at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City. In the incident, two minors aged 14 and 15 opened fire inside the school, resulting in three fatalities and 20 injuries. Initial police investigations noted that one suspect was an avid player of GoreBox, a physics-based sandbox game notorious for its graphic violence. Following this, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center suspended the game. However, Senator Aquino, who chairs the Senate Committees on Basic Education and Science and Technology, highlighted that multiple studies have shown no direct correlation between video games and violent acts such as school shootings. He described video games as a convenient scapegoat in such incidents, noting the medium has existed for nearly 50 years without definitive links to violence. Instead of banning games, Aquino advocates for the passage of the proposed School Safety Act, which includes practical measures such as installing additional CCTV cameras, increasing security personnel including barangay officials, and fostering regular Parent-Teacher Association meetings to address safety concerns. Aquino also emphasized the responsibility of game developers to monitor and restrict access for individuals with harmful intentions, especially considering that video games target a young audience. This stance reflects a call for targeted preventive actions focusing on school security and responsible game development rather than outright bans on gaming.
Sources referenced:
- https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/993064/bam-aquino-video-games/story/
