Senator Risa Hontiveros has urged the Senate to investigate online gaming platforms, including Roblox, over growing concerns about child safety in digital spaces.
In Senate Resolution No. 357, Hontiveros called on the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality to examine how online games operate and recommend stronger safeguards for minors. The proposed probe seeks to push for mandatory age verification systems and stricter child protection standards for digital platforms accessible in the Philippines.
The resolution follows recent security concerns raised by authorities, including a disrupted plot involving seven teenagers from Calabarzon who allegedly planned a school attack using improvised explosives. Investigators said the group may have drawn influence from violent incidents portrayed online, including school shootings abroad.
Hontiveros warned that online environments continue to expose children to risks such as grooming and exploitation. “The Philippines continues to face a persistent and evolving threat of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children,” she said, noting that digital platforms are increasingly used to facilitate contact between offenders and minors.
She cited reports from law enforcement indicating that perpetrators often reach children through online gaming platforms, which may lack reliable systems to verify user age and identity.
In a more recent clarification, the Department of Information and Communications Technology – DICT on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, said it is not planning to shut down or ban Roblox in the Philippines. The agency said its approach is focused on strengthening child protection measures and working with platforms to improve safety standards, rather than imposing an outright ban.
