MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte launched a sharp critique against the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday, September 21, asserting that the recent gun attack at Banga National High School in South Cotabato highlights the government’s failure to safeguard Filipino youth.
Duterte noted that the incident marks the third campus shooting in the country this year, cautioning that similar acts of violence remain a persistent threat to educational institutions nationwide.
“This reminds us that when a government prioritizes political consolidation over fundamental governance, the protection of children is inevitably compromised,” Duterte said.
Connecting the attack to systemic issues of public safety, the Vice President charged the current leadership with focusing on self-preservation rather than delivering concrete measures to ensure peace and order.
“Para kasi sa administrasyong Marcos, mas madali ang maging inutil, magnakaw, at magsamantala kaysa magsilbi nang tapat sa bayan,” Duterte said.
Duterte claimed the government has failed the victims of the South Cotabato tragedy and warned that more children remain vulnerable due to administrative inaction.
“The Marcos administration has failed the victims and survivors of the South Cotabato tragedy. Countless more Filipino children remain at risk of becoming casualties of this government’s incompetence and neglect,” she said.
“We deserve better leadership than this,” Duterte added.
As law enforcement officials continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting, Duterte called for immediate, reinforced measures to guarantee the security of students within school premises.