FALSE: Suan claims Tacloban school shooting suspects are “innocent” under Child Protection Act

Cirujano de Corazon

A Facebook post about the recent school shooting in Tacloban quotes a certain politician as stating the innocence and protection of the suspects, who are minors. 

CLAIM: 

The post claims that Congressman Lordan Suan of Cagayan De Oro’s 1st District stated in an interview with ABS-CBN the innocence of the suspects and that they are under the protection of Senator Risa Hontiveros’s “Children Protection Act,” being the basis for them to be given a second chance. 

RATING: FALSE 

CONCLUSION:

There are no official statements and interviews from Cong. Suan regarding the incident, as the area of the incident is not under his jurisdiction. The suspects, although minors, are also not protected by any child protection act by Sen. Hontiveros, as the post did not mention any specific laws the perpetrators will fall under. 

THE FACTS:

• ABS-CBN did not interview Congressman Lordan Suan of Cagayan de Oro’s 1st District for a statement on the Tacloban shooting. 
• Cong. Suan is also far from Tacloban, considering that his jurisdiction is in Cagayan de Oro, already part of Northern Mindanao.
• Sen. Risa Hontiveros did not sponsor any law called “Child Protection Act.” She is an advocate of child protection and women’s rights
• The most relevant laws that are related to child protection that Sen. Hontiveros filed are legislation for the “Magna Carta of Children” and “Sandy’s Law.”
• The post fabricated the statement while using ABS-CBN’s logo and layout and labeling it as breaking news in the same media outlet’s style.

THE BOTTOMLINE: 

Cong. Suan of Cagayan de Oro’s 1st District did not label the suspects in the Tacloban school shooting as innocent and protected by Sen. Risa’s “Child Protection Act.”