President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed government agencies to investigate the root causes of recent violent incidents involving minors across the country.
Following the June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City that killed three students and injured 20 others, two minors aged 14 and 15 were arrested.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said during a June 25 briefing that the president was “heartbroken” upon learning of the incident because both victims and perpetrators were children.
Besides Tacloban, stabbings were reported in Cavite on June 16 and Negros Occidental on June 23, while authorities foiled a potential mass shooting in Tolosa, Leyte.
The DepEd has ordered a nationwide school safety audit and held a security briefing with the PNP and other agencies to strengthen campus protection.
