Following a deadly rampage inside a high school in South Cotabato, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday directed government and law enforcement agencies to conduct an exhaustive investigation, declaring that gun violence on campuses must never be accepted as a normal part of student life.
The tragedy, which left at least three dead and eight others injured, happened at Banga National High School after a student brought a firearm into a classroom, opened fire and subsequently turned the gun on himself.
The incident marks the third fatal school shooting in the country over a span of just three months, coming on the heels of violent attacks at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City in June and Ateneo de Zamboanga University in August.
Expressing his outrage and grief, President Marcos emphasized that immediate action is necessary to halt the growing frequency of campus violence.
“Muli tayong nahaharap sa isang trahedyang hindi dapat danasin ng sinumang magulang, paaralan, o komunidad…Hindi natin maaaring tanggapin na maging bahagi na lamang ng buhay ng ating mga anak ang mga pamamaril sa paaralan,” Marcos said in his statement.
The President stressed that students deserve to learn without fear, while parents must have the assurance that their children can return home safely each day.
In response to the latest violence, Marcos ordered the Department of Education (DepEd), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to submit comprehensive reports detailing the security protocols implemented following the earlier shootings in Tacloban and Zamboanga.
A primary focus of the full probe will be determining how a minor managed to secure a gun and bring it onto campus grounds undetected. The Chief Executive noted that the national government will formulate additional measures to bridge existing campus security gaps and fortify protection for students and staff.
Extending his condolences to the bereaved families, President Marcos assured victims and their relatives that full government assistance and medical care will be provided to all those injured during the attack.