Vice President Sara Duterte said the deadly shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City exposed shortcomings in the government’s ability to identify threats before violence occurs.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Duterte said the tragedy highlighted the importance of intelligence gathering and early threat detection, stressing that authorities should act before lives are lost.
“This tragedy also exposes the failure of the government to recognize the importance of intelligence gathering and identifying threats before lives are lost. We cannot continue reacting only after another child is hurt or killed,” Duterte said.
The statement came a day after a shooting incident inside San Jose National High School that left four students dead and nine others injured.
Police said two minor suspects were taken into custody following the attack. Authorities recovered around 40 spent shell casings from the crime scene, along with a 9mm Glock pistol and a .38-caliber revolver. Investigators are also tracing the origin of the Glock pistol after reports that it had previously been issued to a police officer who is no longer in active service.
Duterte said the government must address gaps in protecting young people from violence and harmful influences.
She also emphasized that learners should be protected from threats that may come from outside schools, online platforms, or individuals who exploit the vulnerabilities of young people.
According to Duterte, education is not only about academic learning but is also connected to the safety, welfare, and values of students.
The vice president said the continuing loss of young lives should serve as a wake-up call for the administration and urged stronger measures to ensure the safety of learners across the country.
The investigation into the Tacloban school shooting remains ongoing.
