Determine cause of school violence, Marcos orders agencies after Tacloban shooting

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has directed authorities to immediately determine the cause of the series of recent violent attacks in schools as such incidents are unacceptable.

Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro said this in a press briefing on Thursday, noting that the President was "heartbroken" upon learning of the shooting incident at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City which left three students dead.

Castro emphasized that authorities must not ignore such incidents, especially since they involve students.

"Iniuutos din po ng Pangulo ang agarang pag-determine ano ang nagiging ugat nito. Maliban sa nakita ng Pangulo na may kinalaman ang iba mga gaming apps na marahas, so dapat makita po talaga kung saan nagmumula ito, kung nagkakaroon ba ng panggagaya, nagiging parang normal ang ganitong klase ng karahasan," she said.

(The President is ordering the immediate determination of the cause of this. The President has seen that violent gaming apps might be involved, but we must know where such violence really came from, if there is imitation happening, if this kind of violence has become normal.)

"Ipinag-uutos po ng Pangulo ang lahat na dapat na gawin ng mga concerned agencies para po maiwasan ang mga ganitong klase ng kaharasan lalung-lalo sa eskwelahan at sa mga kabataan," she added.

(The President has ordered concerned agencies to do everything to prevent this kind of violence, especially in schools and among the youth.)

On Monday, three learners were killed while 20 others were wounded when two students fired guns inside the San Jose National High School in Barangay San Jose, Tacloban City.

'Heartbroken'

Marcos earlier ordered an investigation into the shooting, asking authorities to ensure the safety of people in all establishments, especially in schools.

Castro said, "Ang mga mararahas na nangyari sa ating bansa ay hindi na po katanggap-tanggap, mas lalo na po kung kabataan ang nasasangkot."

(The violence happening in our country is no longer acceptable, especially when young people are involved.)

"Nu'ng nabalitaan nga po ng Pangulo ang nangyari 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," she added.

(When the President heard about what happened in Tacloban, we can say he was heartbroken because it seemed that children are capable of planning to commit such crimes. Innocent young people were also being victimized.)

Also on Thursday, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said authorities prevented another possible planned attack in a school in Leyte.

Two separate stabbing incidents were also reported over the weekend inside schools in Cavite, involving minors. — VDV, GMA News