Senator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian has called for swift accountability and stronger campus security following a string of violent incidents in Philippine schools, including a fatal shooting in Tacloban City that left three students dead.
In a public statement, Gatchalian described the successive attacks inside schools as deeply alarming and infuriating. He cited the June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, where three students were killed and several others wounded, alongside the seven students hurt in stabbing incidents in Cavite.
“Dapat nagsisilbing ligtas na espasyo ang ating mga paaralan, kaya kailangan ang agarang pagkilos upang mapanagot ang mga sangkot at makamit ang hustisya,” the senator said, stressing that schools must serve as safe spaces and that immediate action is needed to hold those responsible to account.
Gatchalian urged the Department of Education to provide psychosocial support and appropriate intervention to affected students, teachers and staff, and to further tighten school security.
His statement followed a mid-morning shooting on June 22 in which two students, aged 14 and 15, allegedly opened fire inside San Jose National High School while classes were ongoing, killing three fellow students. Police arrested both suspects, identified as Grade 9 students, and recovered a Glock 9mm pistol and a .38 caliber revolver. Tacloban police said initial findings pointed to a grudge linked to bullying as a possible motive.
The Cavite cases the senator referred to involved separate knife attacks. On June 16, seven Grade 5 pupils were wounded when a fellow student allegedly attacked them with a kitchen knife at Bethel Academy in General Trias City, while a Grade 11 student was later stabbed by a schoolmate at Cavite National High School.
The incidents have drawn nationwide concern over campus safety. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered a thorough investigation and directed law enforcers to reinforce security in schools and public areas, while DepEd pledged assistance to the victims’ families.
