Vice President Sara Duterte accused the Marcos administration of failing to adequately protect children following the deadly shooting at Banga National High School in South Cotabato.
Duterte said the government’s priorities had shifted toward political consolidation rather than addressing basic governance concerns, which she argued had consequences for public safety.
“When a government prioritizes political consolidation over fundamental governance, the protection of children is inevitably compromised,” Duterte said in a statement Monday.
She warned that the situation could lead to further violence in schools, while also raising concerns about the safety of children in other communities.
“The Marcos administration has failed the victims and survivors of the South Cotabato tragedy,” she added.
Duterte also criticized the administration over what she described as insufficient efforts to maintain safe and peaceful communities. She said political survival had taken precedence over measures needed to preserve public order.
She further claimed that government incompetence and neglect had left more Filipino children vulnerable to similar incidents.
