A “heartbroken” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered concerned agencies to investigate the growing involvement of minors in violent crimes and identify measures to prevent and stop similar incidents.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the President found recent cases “unacceptable,” citing a shooting in a Tacloban City-based high school, a foiled incident in Leyte, and stabbing incidents in Cavite and San Carlos City.
“Ang mga mararahas na nangyayari sa ating bansa ay hindi na po katanggap-tanggap, mas lalo na po kung kabataan ang nasasangkot. Noong nabalitaan nga po ng Pangulo ang nangyari sa Tacloban ay heartbroken,” Castro said.
“Mga bata ang lumalabas na kaya na gumawa ng krimen, kayang magplano ng krimen, at mga inosenteng kabataan din ang nabibiktima,” she added.
Castro said the President ordered an immediate probe into the root causes of these incidents, including possible influences that may have shaped minors’ involvement in violent acts, such as exposure to violent online games, imitation behavior, and environmental factors.
She said the government also wants to examine how children are being raised and guided, stressing the need to understand what is driving the trend.
“Mas maganda po ngayon na mapakita talaga natin kung paano ba natin inaalagaan ang ating mga kabataan… iniuutos din po ng Pangulo ang agarang pag-determine ng ugat nito,” she said.
Castro added that the President has directed all concerned agencies and stakeholders to recommend urgent measures to prevent further incidents, particularly in schools, amid concerns that violence may be becoming increasingly normalized among the youth.