Tacloban school shooting a wake-up call for gov’t - Sara Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday said the deadly campus shooting in Tacloban City should serve as a wake-up call to the current administration, saying the tragedy exposed serious gaps in the government’s ability to protect young people.

“No parent sends a child to school expecting that child to become a victim of violence. Yet this is not the first time that learners have been harmed either inside our schools or during school activities,” Duterte said in a statement.

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“This tragedy also exposes the failure of the government to recognize the importance of intelligence gathering and identifying threats before lives are lost,” she added.

The vice president also pointed to the recent deaths of Ateneo student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

“With the tragedies that have befallen our learners, including the loss of two student-athletes during a basketball training program, the government must confront the serious gaps in our ability to protect the youth,” she added.

In the same statement, Duterte expressed sadness over the death of students and the injuries sustained by others in Monday’s attack.

Duterte said students must be protected from abuse, neglect, and violence, including those from online platforms and individuals who exploit young people’s vulnerabilities.

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She added that learners must be kept safe both within and outside schools.

The statement was issued a day after a shooting rampage at San Jose National High School left at least three students dead and 13 others wounded.

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Police have taken two minors into custody and are still investigating the motive behind the attack. /gsg

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