MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio on Tuesday called for urgent government action to strengthen school safety measures nationwide following the deadly shooting at a public high school in Tacloban City that left three people dead and 13 others injured.
Duterte-Carpio said the tragedy at San Jose National High School should serve as a warning to authorities about vulnerabilities in the country’s education system and the need to better protect students from violence and other threats.
In a statement sent to Panay News, the Vice President stressed that recent incidents involving young people underscore the importance of prioritizing learner welfare and security.
“The continuing loss of young lives should serve as a wake-up call to this administration. The government must act now to make our schools safer and to better protect our learners,” she said.
Duterte-Carpio also cited the deaths of Ateneo student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili during a team activity earlier this month, saying both incidents highlight the need for stronger safeguards for students.
The Vice President, who previously served as secretary of the Department of Education, said the safety and well-being of learners are closely tied to broader national concerns.
She noted that the influences affecting young people both inside and outside school environments could have long-term implications for the country’s stability and security.
According to Duterte-Carpio, authorities must address gaps in existing systems designed to protect children and adolescents from various threats.
“Our learners must be protected from radical influences, whether they come from outside the school, from online platforms, or from individuals who take advantage of the vulnerabilities of young people,” Duterte-Carpio said.
“More importantly, they must be protected from abuse, neglect, and violence within the very institutions entrusted with their welfare,” she added.
The statement was issued a day after a shooting inside San Jose National High School in Barangay San Jose, Tacloban City, where two minor suspects allegedly opened fire, killing three people and injuring 13 others.
Police have taken the two suspects, aged 14 and 15, into custody.
Authorities said paraffin tests and medical examinations were conducted on the minors, who were expected to be transferred to a Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL) facility in Barangay Tagpuro under the supervision of the Tacloban City Social Welfare and Development Office.
Investigators are continuing their probe into the circumstances surrounding the attack as calls grow for tighter security protocols and stronger protective measures in schools across the country./PN
