The Philippine Senate opened hearings on the School Safety Act on July 9 to address violence, bullying and other threats in schools.
The joint hearing is led by Senator Bam Aquino, chairman of the committee on basic education. It covers the June 8 drowning of student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili in Dipaculao, Aurora, and the June 22 school shooting in Tacloban City that killed three students and wounded 20 others.
The Senate committee on higher, technical and vocational education; science and technology; civil service; justice and human rights; and finance are participating. A livestream of the session was scheduled to begin at 10 am.
The hearings follow security patrols by Manila Police District Special Weapons and Tactics units at schools after earlier incidents in Cavite and Tacloban.
