President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has expressed deep sorrow over a tragic school shooting in Tacloban City, prompting him to order state agencies to investigate the root causes of rising youth violence, Malacañang announced on Thursday, June 25.
During a press briefing, Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro conveyed the President’s alarm over the growing trend of violent incidents within schools, calling it unacceptable that children are acting as both the attackers and the victims.
“Ang mga mararahas na nangyayari sa ating bansa ay hindi na po katanggap-tanggap. Mas lalo na po kung kabataan ang nasasangkot,” Castro said.
According to Castro, the Chief Executive was profoundly shaken by the shooting, where a student reportedly opened fire inside a school campus, resulting in multiple casualties and injuries.
“Noong nabalitaan nga po ng Pangulo ang nangyayari sa Tacloban ay… Heartbroken, masasabi natin, ang naramdaman ng Pangulo dahil mga bata ang lumalabas na kaya na gumawa ng krimen, kayang magplanong gumawa ng krimen. At mga inosenteng mga kabataan din ang nabibiktima,” Castro stated.
In response, President Marcos has ordered relevant government bodies to tighten security measures and guarantee student safety across campuses nationwide. He also emphasized the urgency of pinpointing the societal and psychological triggers driving young people toward extreme violence.
Castro noted that the President specifically wants investigators to analyze whether exposure to aggressive media and technology is warping the mindsets of the youth.
“So, iniutos din po ng Pangulo ang agarang pag-determine ano ang nagiging ugat nito. Maliban po sa nakita ng Pangulo na may kinalaman ng iba mga gaming apps na marahas. So dapat makita po talaga kung saan nagmumula ito, kung nagkakaroon ba ng panggagaya, nagiging parang normal ang ganyan kong klase ng kaharasan,” she said.
The Palace reiterated that youth-involved violence demands urgent, serious intervention, stressing the government’s responsibility to provide proper guidance, security, and welfare protection for Filipino children.