PH Boy Scout honored posthumously for bravery at school shooting

TACLOBAN CITY - The Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) has posthumously conferred its highest distinction - the Gold Gallantry and Heroism Award - on Scout Chris Lorenz Fabian for his extraordinary courage during the deadly shooting at San Jose National High School in this city.The organization said Fabian's final act embodied the Scout Oath, describing him as a young man who "stood as a shield, choosing service and duty to others above his own survival."The BSP added that although his life was cut short, his sacrifice would continue to inspire future generations of Scouts with honor, courage and selflessness.As the nation mourns the deaths of three students and the injuries suffered by 20 others in the June 22 attack, lawmakers are also pushing to examine the circumstances that led to the tragedy.Tingog Party-list Rep. Andrew Julian Romualdez said the party-list, together with Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez, is studying the possibility of a congressional inquiry into the shooting."A school day that should have ended like any other instead became a tragedy that no parent, no friend, no classmate and no community should ever have to bear," Romualdez said."Justice for the victims must be served, fully, fairly and through due process, with the protections required when minors are involved," he added.Romualdez also said the tragedy should not be viewed as an isolated incident.He said a congressional inquiry could examine the juvenile justice and welfare system, school safety protocols, mental health services and coordination among schools, parents, law enforcement agencies and local communities."The goal would not only be accountability, but understanding, to find where the systems meant to shield our children instead left them exposed and to turn that understanding into real reform," Romualdez ended.