Palace to VP Sara: Offer solutions, not criticism, on school violence

MANILA – Malacañang said Tuesday that Vice President Sara Duterte should present concrete proposals to address school violence instead of merely criticizing the government following a shooting incident in Tacloban City.

“Magaling naman po yata siyang magpuna, pero walang solusyon na naibibigay. Sana nagbigay siya ng solusyon (She seems good at pointing out flaws, but she is not offering any solutions. Hopefully, she provides solutions),” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro told reporters.

Castro questioned Duterte’s suggestion regarding intelligence gathering, noting that the incident involved students and not terrorists.

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

“Ibig sabihin, estudyante dapat minu-monitor para sa intelligence gathering? Hindi sila mga terorista, sila ay mga estudyanteng mukhang diumanong gumon lang sa online gaming na marahas (Does this mean students should be monitored through intelligence gathering? They are not terrorists; they are students who seem addicted to violent online gaming),” she said.

Castro cited several violent incidents that occurred during the administration of Duterte’s father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, including a 2019 shooting involving a Grade 7 student inside a classroom in Laguna.

She said similar incidents had happened in the past despite the previous administration’s security efforts.

“May mga pagkakataon po na hindi maiiwasan ang mga ganitong sitwasyon, especially sa pangyayaring ito, mga estudyante, mga menor de edad, hindi terorista (There are times when these situations cannot really be avoided, especially in this case involving students and minors, not terrorists),” she said.

Castro said the Vice President should provide recommendations that could help prevent similar incidents in the future.

READ: Tacloban City school shooting: Latest updates

“At sa susunod sana, bago magbigay ng pamimintas at paninira ang Bise Presidente, itanong ninyo sa kanya, ano ang kanyang suhestiyon (And next time, before the Vice President issues criticisms, she should be asked to offer suggestions),” Castro said.

The suspects in the shooting incident at the San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, Leyte on Monday were minors aged 14 and 15, with one of them identified as a child in conflict with the law (CICL).

Authorities are looking into reports that the two minors were victims of bullying.

Before the incident, two separate stabbing incidents involving students were reported in Cavite on June 16 and 19.

The incidents have prompted discussions on possible amendments to the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, enhancing school security protocols, and regulating the use of social media for minors. (PNA)

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