ACT Teachers Party-list Representative Antonio Tinio has issued a strong rebuke against Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, demanding a public apology for her recent statements attributing blame to educators following a fatal school shooting in Zamboanga City.
Speaking on Wednesday, August 19, the House Deputy Minority Leader labeled Castro’s comments as both illogical and unwarranted, asserting that blaming teachers serves only to divert attention from systemic safety failures under the current administration.
”To the Presidential Spokesperson: irespeto mo ang mga pangalawang magulang ng ating mga anak. Mag-sorry ka sa kanila,” Tinio said.
”Dapat bawiin ni Usec. Claire Castro at humingi siya ng paumanhin sa lahat ng guro sa di-katanggap-tanggap at wala sa lugar na paninisi niya sa mga guro para pagtakpan ang kabiguan ng Marcos Jr administration na pangalagaan ang kaligtasan ng mga estudyante, guro, at empleyado sa mga paaralan,” he added.
The criticism stems from Castro’s remarks regarding the violence at Ateneo de Zamboanga University, where a Grade 9 student armed with two firearms fatally shot a classmate and ended his own life. The incident resulted in two additional injuries and prompted widespread evacuations while being streamed live online by the perpetrator.
Tinio emphasized that educators should not serve as scapegoats for broader structural deficiencies surrounding public safety and institutional support.
”Her comments were unwarranted, gratuitous, and illogical – inexplicably lashing out at teachers when asked about the school shooting incident in Zamboanga,” noted the lawmaker.
”The alarming rise in such incidents is a complex issue involving insufficent school funding, lack of access to mental health services, and lax gun control, for which teachers must not be used as scapegoats,” Tinio said.
”Huwag ibintang sa teachers ang mga kakulangan ng gubyerno,” he added.