PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered an investigation into the latest school shooting in South Cotabato.
This shooting at Banga National High School left three students dead (not six, as earlier reported) — including the 16-year-old suspected gunman, who shot himself after the attack. Six others were wounded in the attack.
This was the third deadly school shooting this year, following incidents in Tacloban and Zamboanga.
In a statement late Friday, Marcos expressed his grief for the families of those affected, stressing that school violence must never become an accepted reality for Filipino children.
“I extend my condolences to the families who lost loved ones in the shooting at Banga National High School in South Cotabato,” he said in Filipino.
“We are ensuring that those who were injured receive the medical treatment and assistance they need,” he added.
Marcos directed authorities to look into how the minor managed to secure a weapon and bypass campus security.
“I have already directed our agencies to strengthen security in schools and do everything necessary to prevent a recurrence of such a tragedy,” he said.
He added that he has instructed the Department of Education, Department of Interior and Local Government, and the Philippine National Police to report on implemented measures to prevent similar incidents.
“In the coming days, we will roll out additional measures to address remaining gaps and better protect our students,” he said.
He concluded his message by saying that school shootings should not be normalized and that children should have the right to study in a safe environment without having to fear for their lives.
“It is our children’s right to study without fear. It is the right of parents to send them to school knowing they will return home safely. This is our responsibility to every Filipino family,” he said.
South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. said the shooter used a registered 9mm handgun belonging to his father to execute the attack before turning the weapon on himself.
The Department of Education (DepEd) confirmed that the father of the student who opened fire at a school in Banga was an employee.
DepEd said the employee remains in active service and has not been suspended.
The department said no administrative action has been taken against him, as no case has been filed, pending the outcome of the police investigation.
Asked whether the father would be removed from his post because he is a DepEd employee, Angara said in an ambush interview: “Well, definitely, he should not be involved in the investigation.”
“We respect the jurisdiction of the PNP here regarding the criminal aspect. We are just waiting for the findings of the PNP,” he said in Filipino and English.
He said the investigation would d etermine how the firearm entered the school and how the student obtained it.
“For us, our concern is the safety of the children, the return, when classes will start, etc.,” Angara said in Filipino and English.
House of Representatives Speaker Faustino Dy III and Majority Leader Sandro Marcos are pushing for the passage of a bill strengthening the country’s firearms laws and safeguards as an immediate legislative response to the shooting at Banga National High School in South Cotabato.
In a news release Friday evening, Dy said House Bill (HB) 11387, or the Responsible Firearm Ownership and Safe Storage Act, seeks to prevent minors and other unauthorized persons from gaining access to firearms as part of broader efforts to make schools safer and avert similar tragedies.
“This latest tragedy reinforces our resolve to build safer and more caring schools for every Filipino child. As one of our immediate measures, Majority Leader Marcos and I filed House Bill 11387 to strengthen our laws and safeguards regarding firearm ownership, custody, and use,” Dy said.
