THE HOWIE SEVERINO PODCAST: Confronting the unthinkable reality of school shootings

In a recently released episode, The Howie Severino Podcast opens up a painful conversation surrounding two deadly school shooting incidents that occurred within just two months—the first in Tacloban, Leyte in June, and the attack last August 18 in Zamboanga City. Both tragedies were carried out by teenagers and minors.

"Medyo malungkot ang pag-uusapan natin ngayon pero kailangan pag-usapan (Our topic today is sad, but it needs to be discussed)," veteran journalist Howie Severino shares candidly with his listeners, establishing the reflective tone of the episode. Grappling with the weight of the tragedies, he notes, "Nakakapangilabot, nakakaiyak, mahirap maunawaan (It is horrifying, sorrowful, and hard to understand)."

Severino also extends comfort to both sides, stating, "Condolences sa mga pamilya ng mga nasawi at sympathies din sa mga pamilya ng perpetrators dahil alam natin they are probably as shocked and as sad as anyone else."

(Condolences to the families of the victims and sympathies too to the families of the perpetrators because we know they are probably as shocked and as sad as anyone else.)

To break down the psychological and societal mechanics of this crisis, Severino sits down with AJ Sunglao, a psychologist and crisis response specialist from the Psychological Association of the Philippines. Together, they analyze why these events have blindsided the local consciousness.

Unthinkable

"This is something na parang hindi natin maisip. Siguro before the first incident at Tacloban happened, before today, unthinkable ito," Sunglao explains.

(This is something we would probably have never thought of. Maybe before the first incident at Tacloban happened, before today, this was unthinkable.)

He points out that typical campus altercations previously involved physical fights or bladed weapons. "Kasi kahit may mga kaso na tayo before ng violence sa school, ang pinakamalala madalas ay nagdala ng mga patalim, nagbugbugan, mga ganung mga bagay. Ito talaga parang kakaiba."

(In previous cases of school violence, the worst ones involve those who brought sharp objects, or mauled each other, that sort of thing. This one is different.)

He recalls past fatal school incidents—including a high-profile assassination during an Ateneo commencement ceremony, a principal killed in Lanao years ago, and various domestic disputes that spilled onto campuses. However, those previous tragedies were different because they were targeted.

These recent cases represent an entirely new phenomenon because they are "being called mass school shootings" where "mukhang walang tinatarget na individuals (it looks like no individuals were targeted)."

When pressed for what these two recent incidents have in common, Sunglao points out a terrifying commonality: "Ang pinakapagkakaiba siguro ngayon ay multiple perpetrator na parehong menor na edad at nangyari ito sa eskwelahan on a regular school day." Unlike targeted crimes with clear political or singular motivations, these involve "kids looking to harm either someone or certain groups of people."

(The difference maybe now is that these incidents involved multiple perpetrators who were both minors and these happened in school on a regular school day.)

"Maraming nasaktan," Sunglao continues of the chaos. "So talagang, noong nagsabay ang putukan, hindi lang ito itong ilang tao lamang, kundi may mga damay, may ibang mga estudyante, ibang mga guro, mga security guard, at ibang mga tao sa loob ng eskwelehan din."

(Many got injured. So when the shooting happened, not just a few were affected. Other students, teachers, security guards, and people inside the school where likewise affected.)

Copycat incident?

With the two similar tragedies striking so close together, Severino raises the question on many minds: "Posible bang copycat incident ito, 'yung nangyari sa Zamboanga?"

(Is it possible that the Zamboanga shooting was a copycat incident?)

Sunglao clarifies that investigators must ultimately determine the link, through forensic interviewing, to check if the perpetrator found "any kind of commonality, if they found any inspiration or any kind of idea mula sa Tacloban shooting." However, he cautions that the risk is clinically real. "Kasi may tinatawag tayong contagion effect, na one incident influencing others."

The timeline remains complex. Sunglao points out, "Hindi natin alam baka 'yung pagplano pala nitong shooting na ito ay nag-pre-predate pa sa nangyari sa Tacloban at nauna lang talaga 'yun. Or baka kung may ibang extenuating circumstance that pushed the children, that pushed the kids to do it now, hindi natin masabi."

(We don't know if the Zamboanga shooting was planned before the Tacloban incident happened, and it just so happened the latter incident occurred first. Or maybe there were other extenuating circumstances that pushed the children, that pushed the kids to do it now. We can't really say.)

Because of this fragile dynamic, he emphasizes that public discourse holds immense weight: "Isa 'yun sa dapat tingnan, na dapat iwasan. Kaya talaga napakalaking bagay ang tamang pag-report sa mga ganitong insidente at tamang pag-uusap, tamang usapan."

(That is one of the things that should be looked into, and avoided. That is why it really matters that reporting and discussing incidents like these are done well.)

A particularly distressing element of the Zamboanga incident was the rapid spread of graphic digital content. Sunglao highlights this as a major point of concern for mental health.

"Kasi, I think isa mga concerning thing na napansin namin right after the incident is may mga videos talaga that weren't just showing glimpses or photos but even full videos of what exactly happened which could actually harm not just the people na nasa video pero 'yung mga nanonood din, lalo na ang ating mga kabataan," he said.

(Because I think one of the concerning things we noticed is that right after the incident, there were really videos that weren't just showing glimpses or photos but even full videos of what exactly happened which could actually harm not just the people on the video but even those who watch them, especially the youth.)

Severino expands on this, shifting the spotlight onto mainstream media responsibility. “Mga media organization, mga news agency, we cover suicides differently. Precisely to prevent copycat incidents. And in fact, there are suicides that we don't even treat as news."

Severino also notes that the complex nature of the crime complicates things. "In this case, It's not just a suicide, it was also a killing. It was either a murder or homicide. And so it's been saturation coverage, especially since we're still recovering emotionally, psychologically, culturally from the June incident in Tacloban."

When asked how the press has fared, Sunglao describes the current landscape as "very mixed." While some media partners respect the sensitivities of involving children by omitting identifying details and honoring the families, others fall short.

"Ang masakit ay hindi lahat. We still see people highlighting news and are presenting theories even na hindi pa na-verify," he said.

(What hurts is that not everyone [respected the sensitivities of involving children]. We still see people highlighting news and are presenting theories even those that have not yet been verified.)

Schools unequipped

Stepping back to analyze the broader community response, Severino pivots the discussion toward vulnerabilities within the educational system. While a well-funded private institution like the one in Zamboanga might have immediate access to administrative professionals, Severino underscores a glaring issue plaguing public infrastructure: "We know kulang-kulang ng (there is a lack of) guidance counselors sa mga schools nationwide."

Severino points out that this deficit leaves many schools completely unequipped, placing an emotional toll on everyday families. "Baka natatakot na 'yung mga magulang na papasukin na 'yung mga estudyante (Some parents may have become afraid to let their children go to school). It adds another risk to going out of the house aside from the flooding and everything else that can happen."

Sunglao acknowledges that response energies usually rush to wherever an incident occurs, but notes that long-term recovery depends entirely on what happens next. "Importante 'yung post, 'yung aftermath na tinatawag (The post or the aftermath is important)."

The crisis serves as an expensive lesson on the country’s lack of systemic preparation. Sunglao compares mental health infrastructure to disaster readiness.

"’Yung mga ganitong usapan about basic mental health, about how do you support 'yung mga ating kabataan, lalo na ating mga teenagers, teens having safe spaces to talk about these things... Na di tayo nakapag-prepare nang maayos. So parang sa disaster response, dapat mas maigting, mas may foundation 'yung preparation," he said.

(These discussions about basic mental health, about how do you support the youth, especially teenagers, teens having safe spaces to talk about these things... We were not able to prepare well [for these]. So it's like disaster response - these should have been more efficient, there is adequate foundation for preparation.)

With resources heavily strained across both public and private spheres, local communities are currently forced to carry the weight on their own. "Ito ngayon 'yung nangyayari kasi nga, ang mangyayari ngayon, siyempre, sila-sila rin 'yung magtutulungan, ang komunidad na ito," Sunglao explains. "Pero kung walang tulong mula sa mas nakakaalam o sa mas may capacity o bandwidth na tumulong, di natin alam kung gaano kaganda o gaano kadali ang maging recovery ng mga apektado na ito."

(This is what's happening now, because what will happen of course is that they will be the ones helping each other, this community. But if there is no help coming from those who have more knowledge or capacity or bandwidth, we won't know how good or easy the recovery of those affected will be.)

Ultimately, the podcast emphasizes that campus borders can no longer isolate these tragedies.

Sunglao validates a chilling reality initially raised in their chat: "Ang epekto nito ay hindi lang naman sa mga nasa eskwelahan, pero nasa buong komunidad na. Kasi syempre, kung kaya ngang mangyari sa isang kilalang eskwelahan, paano pa kaya 'yung mga nasa public, paano pa kaya 'yung nasa ibang mga private schools din."

(The effect is not just felt by those in the school, but the whole community too. Because of course, if this can happen in a prestigious school, what more in public schools and other private schools?)

The episode wraps this segment with a warning for school boards and families nationwide. "Mas makakapag-isip-isip ngayon 'yung mga administration, 'yung mga administrador ng mga eskwelahan at 'yung mga parents din dito," Sunglao concludes. "Talagang may kailangan na messaging at talagang concerted effort hindi lang sa Zamboanga o sa Tacloban o sa Leyte pero sa buong bansa na i-address ang ganitong issue."

(The administration or administrators of schools and parents will be able to weigh this more. There needs to be the right messaging and concerted effort not just in Zamboanga or Tacloban or Leyte but in the whole country to address this issue.) —KG, GMA News