VP SARA SAYS TACLOBAN SCHOOL SHOOTING EXPOSES GOVERNMENT FAILURE TO PROTECT LEARNERS

Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday said the deadly shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City exposed serious shortcomings in the government’s ability to protect young people, calling the tragedy a wake-up call for the administration.

In a statement issued on June 23, Duterte expressed sadness over the incident, which claimed lives and left several learners injured. She stressed that no parent sends a child to school expecting them to become victims of violence.

“Yet this is not the first time that learners have been harmed either inside our schools or during school activities,” Duterte said, citing previous tragedies involving students, including the deaths of two student-athletes during a basketball training program.

The Vice President said the government must confront what she described as serious gaps in safeguarding the youth. She emphasized that learners should be protected from radical influences, whether coming from outside schools, online platforms, or individuals who exploit the vulnerabilities of young people. She also underscored the need to shield children from abuse, neglect, and violence within institutions entrusted with their welfare.

Duterte further argued that the Tacloban tragedy highlighted failures in intelligence gathering and threat identification, saying authorities must be able to detect risks before lives are lost.

“We cannot continue reacting only after another child is hurt or killed,” she said.

The Vice President added that education goes beyond academics, stressing that the values, influences, and experiences of learners outside the classroom are closely linked to national security and social stability.

Calling the continued loss of young lives unacceptable, Duterte urged the government to take immediate steps to strengthen school safety measures and better protect students across the country.

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the shooting incident at San Jose National High School, which has drawn national attention and renewed calls for stronger security and protection mechanisms in schools.