Senator Imee Marcos expressed deep concern over attempts to lay the blame on educators following the fatal shooting incident at Ateneo de Zamboanga University, calling instead on government regulatory and law enforcement bodies to target organizations that recruit, groom, and manipulate the youth.
Her statement appeared to directly address controversial comments made by Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, who faced intense backlash for implying that some teachers encourage disrespect among students.
“Naku ha, ICC strikes again. Ano ba naman sila? Bakit n’yo naman sisisihin ‘yong mga hamak na teacher? Samantalang ‘di ba ‘yong isang guro, siya pa nga ang pinupuntirya?” Marcos said.
The lawmaker firmly rejected using educators as scapegoats, emphasizing that teachers themselves are frequently the victims of school violence.
“Hindi ba dapat kung magtuturuan at magsisisihan na naman tayo, ang una dapat ‘yong mga nagmo-monitor at nagre-regulate niyan, ‘yong mga ahensiya ng gobyerno?” she said.
Marcos urged key regulatory entities—including the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC)—to step up measures against harmful online networks preying on young citizens.
She also called on the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to intensify operations against criminal groups and syndicates accused of recruiting or indoctrinating minors.
“Sangkatutak ang imbestigador sa gobyerno, kung ano-ano iniimbestigahan ninyo. Ano ba naman, gawin ninyo ‘yong trabaho at itong mga nagbe-brainwash at nagre-recruit ng kabataan natin, ‘yan ang una ninyong tirahin. At konting payo lang, huwag sisisihin ang ating mga teacher, labis-labis na ang hirap nila,” Marcos said.
The senator’s remarks follow a demand from the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) for Castro to issue a formal apology and retract her statements alleging that certain educators teach children to be disrespectful toward adults.