President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has released P1.35 million in financial aid to the families struck by the deadly June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, Malacañang announced Wednesday.
Each of the three families who lost a child will receive P150,000, while the 18 students wounded in the attack are set to get P50,000 apiece. Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the payments come on top of support already provided by agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Education.
Castro described the President as devastated by the killings, noting that some of the young victims died while trying to shield their classmates.
“Nakakadurog-puso, iyan ang naramdaman ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. sa pangyayari sa Tacloban kung saan may mga kabataan na nagbuwis ng buhay para masagip ang ibang kamag-aral,” she said during a briefing on Wednesday, July 1.
“Mga kabataan ang nabibiktima at mga kabataan din ang nambibiktima,” she added.
The attack unfolded when two students, aged 14 and 15, allegedly opened fire inside the campus, killing three and wounding at least 18. Police have pointed to bullying as a possible trigger, though the investigation continues.
Families of the victims have pushed back against the idea of the minor suspects staying under DSWD care alone. Castro acknowledged their plea but explained that the law directs minors in conflict with the law toward intervention and rehabilitation in DSWD facilities rather than adult detention.
“Nais natin ipaliwanag na ang pagdadala sa pangangalaga ng DSWD ng mga menor de edad na nakagawa ng krimen ay sa DSWD facilities dadalhin para sa kanilang reformation at rehabilitation at hindi sa regular na kulungan para sa mga adult,” she said.
“Pero sisiguruhin ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. na makakamit ninyo ang hustisya,” Castro added.
In the wake of the shooting, DepEd has moved to tighten campus security, rolling out metal detectors and CCTV cameras and building closer links with parents and barangay officials. Marcos had separately directed education, law enforcement, health, and local government offices to reinforce protections for students against violence, negligence, and other threats on campus and during school activities.
The briefing also touched on GoreBox, a violent sandbox game one of the teenage suspects reportedly played often. Castro said the title has since been removed from the Google Play Store and Steam in the Philippines, with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center confirming that Filipino users can no longer download it and that those who installed it earlier can no longer open it. The CICC said the restriction will remain while officials weigh the risks violent online content poses to minors and pursue talks with the game’s developer over further safeguards.
