A viral Facebook post falsely claims that Cagayan de Oro First District Representative Lordan Suan said the minors involved in the June 22, 2026 Tacloban school shooting are innocent and protected by the Child Protection Act allegedly authored by Senator Risa Hontiveros. The claim is false. The alleged statement is fabricated and was falsely attributed to the congressman.
The false claim surfaced following the shooting inside San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, where three students were killed and at least 15 others were injured. Initial police investigation found that the attack was allegedly planned and carried out by two minors, aged 14 and 15. The incident prompted public discussions on juvenile justice, child protection laws, and the age of criminal responsibility.
Despite the viral circulation of the quote, there is no official record showing that Suan made such a statement. The quote originated from a Facebook post and did not come from any verified statement, press release, interview, or official social media account of the congressman. Joel Torres, Political Affairs Officer VI from Suan’s office, confirmed in a call with Rappler that the circulating statement is false and that Suan never made the alleged remarks.
The post also incorrectly claims that the Child Protection Act was authored by Senator Risa Hontiveros. Republic Act No. 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, was not authored by Hontiveros. While she authored amendments related to child protection, including the law raising the age of sexual consent from 12 to 16, she did not author the original Child Protection Act. Moreover, Philippine child protection and juvenile justice laws do not automatically declare minors “innocent” or exempt them from legal processes. Instead, they provide legal safeguards while ensuring accountability under the law.
