Hontiveros warns delays in child online safety bill could put schools at risk

Sen. Risa Hontiveros warned Tuesday that prolonged delays in passing a proposed child online safety law could weaken efforts to prevent harmful online influence from escalating into violence involving children in schools.

Hontiveros said law enforcers and investigators need stronger legal tools to address online threats and prevent another school shooting or major violent incident involving minors.

“Pinaka-importante, urgent po itong bill (This is most important, this bill is urgent),” Hontiveros said in a radio interview.

The proposed measure seeks to amend the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children law and expand its coverage through a broader child online safety framework.

It would address child sexual abuse and exploitation material as well as online mechanisms linked to nihilistic violent extremism.

Hontiveros cited the school shootings in Tacloban and Zamboanga as examples of the potential consequences of harmful online influence on minors.

She cautioned against allowing prolonged debate over the bill to delay measures intended to protect children.

“Minsan yung kaaway ng the good ay yung the perfect. So huwag naman sanang pine-perfect natin yung bill at the expense of kaligtasan ng ating mga bata (Sometimes the enemy of the good is the perfect. So, I hope we are not perfecting the bill at the expense of the safety of our children),” she said.

Hontiveros rejected suggestions that the measure was being rushed, saying it has already been under the period of amendments for three weeks.

She said she accepted about 80 amendments last week, including several proposed by a fellow senator, and remained open to further changes during the current week.

“Laging bukas ako dyan. Lagi kong sinasagot and lahat ng mga amyenda niya so far tinanggap ko (I am always open to that. I always answer, and all of her amendments so far, I accepted),” Hontiveros said.

She said the Senate can continue refining the proposal while preserving its primary purpose of giving authorities a timely legal framework to protect children from online exploitation and violent digital influence.

The bill remains under the period of amendments at the Senate.