Palace: Marcos grants over P1M aid to Tacloban school shooting victims

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. extended more than P1 million in financial assistance to the families of those killed and hurt in the recent school shooting in Tacloban City while directing government agencies to strengthen safety measures in schools nationwide.

At a Palace press briefing on Wednesday, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the President was deeply saddened by the incident, describing it as particularly heartbreaking because both the victims and the alleged perpetrators were minors.

According to Castro, the Office of the President will provide P150,000 each to the families of the three students who were killed and P50,000 each to the 18 students who were injured.

She said the assistance is separate from the assistance earlier extended by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Education (DepEd).

Castro added that the administration is also working to strengthen school security following the tragedy.

Among the measures are the installation of metal detectors and closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in schools, as well as closer coordination with parents and barangay officials.

In a recorded message played during the briefing, Marcos said he had directed education, law enforcement, health, and local government agencies to intensify efforts to protect students.

“Inatasan ko ang ating mga ahensya sa edukasyon, kapulisan, kalusugan at lokal na pamahalaan na higit pang palakasin ang mga hakbang para sa kaligtasan ng mga mag-aaral sa buong bansa.” (I have directed our education, police, health, and local government agencies to further strengthen measures to ensure the safety of students across the country.)

Castro also said the administration remains committed to ensuring justice for the victims while observing existing laws governing children in conflict with the law.

As part of government’s response, Castro said the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) has coordinated with digital platforms to restrict access to the online game GoreBox in the Philippines after investigators found that one of the suspects in the Tacloban shooting frequently played the game.

According to the Palace, GoreBox has been removed from Google Play and Steam in the Philippines, making it inaccessible even to users who had previously downloaded it. The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) welcomed the move, saying it supports efforts to create a safer online environment for children.

The government had earlier announced a temporary ban on the game following the June 23 recommendation of the CICC amid the ongoing investigation into the shooting. —RF, GMA News