Senate President Win Gatchalian has sounded the alarm on the recent surge of violent attacks targeting students, labeling the situation a national crisis and announcing plans to launch a formal legislative inquiry to protect learners.
The Senate chief asserted that these recurring acts of violence can no longer be brushed aside as isolated events. Instead, he emphasized that they must be treated as a critical public safety threat requiring urgent intervention.
“Isa nang krisis na maituturing ang pagpapatuloy ng karahasan sa ating mga paaralan. Hindi natin papayagang maging normal ang ganitong uri ng mga insidente,” he said in a statement.
“Kaya naman maghahain tayo ng resolusyon upang masuri natin ang bigat ng suliranin at matukoy natin ang mga solusyon para sa kaligtasan ng ating mga mag-aaral sa mga paaralan,” he added.
Gatchalian’s call for action follows a distressing stabbing incident outside Julio Ledesma National High School in San Carlos City, where a Grade 10 student allegedly attacked a Grade 9 student.
This stabbing occurred just 24 hours after a horrific shooting rampage at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, which left three students dead and 20 others wounded. Police have since apprehended two teenage suspects, aged 14 and 15, linked to the fatal shooting.