President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has instructed all relevant government agencies to conduct a prompt and thorough investigation into a series of alarming incidents of school-based violence reported in Luzon and Mindanao over the past week.
“Kailangan po talagang maimbestigahan ito lalo po’t may mga menor de edad na nasasangkot po dito at nagiging issue na talaga ‘yung mental health sa mga kabataan,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said on Thursday.
In a briefing at the Palace, Castro announced that the President has ordered the Department of Education (DepEd), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to work together in investigating these recent incidents.
Castro said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has been directed to assist in the evaluation of the implementation of child protection policies in schools nationwide.
The President’s directive came following a series of violent school-related incidents that have drawn national attention.
On August 7, a shooting incident happened inside a classroom in Nueva Ecija, where a 15-year-old female student was shot by her ex-boyfriend, who then took his own life. The victim initially fell into a coma and later died from her injuries.
On August 4, a teacher at Balabagan Trade School in Lanao del Sur was allegedly shot and killed by a Grade 11 student, who was reportedly upset over failing grades.
On August 10, a 9-year-old Grade 3 student from Maria Cristina Falls Elementary School was allegedly mauled by five high school students. The victim, who sustained serious injuries and was confined in the Intensive Care Unit, has reportedly awakened from a coma.
“Hindi po ito tutulugan at aaksyunan po ito ng mga concerned agencies, agad-agad din po,” Castro said.
In response to the incidents, Education Secretary Sonny Angara issued a memorandum on August 8 instructing all schools to tighten security measures. The directive includes mandatory bag inspections, increased visibility of security personnel, and stricter control of school entry and exit points.
DepEd also called on schools to strengthen their mechanisms for reporting and addressing incidents involving child abuse, bullying, violence, exploitation, discrimination, and gang-related activity on campus. | PND
