MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has ordered government agencies to immediately determine the root causes behind a string of violent incidents involving students, including the deadly Tacloban school shooting, as Malacañang said the Chief Executive is “heartbroken” that children are now being implicated in serious crimes.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Friday that Marcos was deeply saddened by the fatal shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, where minors were among both the suspects and the victims, prompting the administration to push for a comprehensive investigation into the factors driving youth violence.
“Noong nabalitaan nga po ng Pangulo ang nangyayari sa Tacloban, ay heartbroken, masasabi natin, ang naramdaman ng Pangulo dahil mga bata ang lumalabas na kaya na gumawa ng krimen, kayang magplano gumawa ng krimen. At mga inosenteng mga kabataan din ang nabibiktima,” Castro said.
The Palace statement came after the June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City. Authorities also recently foiled an alleged attack at a school in Tolosa, Leyte, reportedly planned by a 14-year-old student, while a separate stabbing incident involving Grade 9 and Grade 10 students was reported in San Carlos City.
Castro said the administration considers the recent acts of violence involving minors unacceptable.
“Ang mga mararahas na nangyayari sa ating bansa ay hindi na po katanggap-tanggap, mas lalo na po kung kabataan ang nasasangkot,” she said.
She said Marcos has instructed concerned government agencies to urgently identify the underlying causes of the incidents, including the possible influence of violent online games and copycat behavior.
“Mas maganda po ngayon na mapakita talaga natin kung paano ba natin inaalagaan ang ating mga kabataan. At hindi po siguro nararapat na isantabi o hindi pansinin ang mga ganitong pangyayari,” Castro said.
“So, iniuutos din po ng Pangulo ang agarang pag-determine ano ang nagiging ugat nito, maliban po sa nakita ng Pangulo na may kinalaman ang ibang mga gaming apps na marahas,” she added.
Asked about proposals to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility, Castro said Marcos remains open to reviewing any legislative measure but emphasized that any proposal would undergo careful study before a decision is made.
“Depende po ito sa magiging bersiyon kung gagawa man at magbabalangkas ng panukalang batas at ito’y aaralin ng Pangulo at para malaman natin kung ano ang nararapat para sa ating mga kabataan,” she said.
The Palace remarks came amid renewed public debate on juvenile justice policies following the recent string of school-related violent incidents involving minors./PN
