MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio blamed the Marcos administration for what she described as failures in protecting Filipino children following the deadly South Cotabato school shooting, even as authorities move to tighten school security and examine how minors gain access to firearms and harmful online content.
Duterte-Carpio accused the administration of allowing political priorities to overshadow basic governance after the Sept. 18 shooting at Banga National High School left three students, including the alleged gunman, dead and eight others injured.
“This reminds us that when a government prioritizes political consolidation over fundamental governance, the protection of children is inevitably compromised,” Duterte-Carpio said in a statement sent to Panay News.
She further accused the administration of failing to adequately address threats confronting Filipino children and linked the tragedy to what she described as broader shortcomings in governance and public security.
“Para kasi sa administrasyong Marcos, mas madali ang maging inutil, magnakaw, at magsamantala kaysa magsilbi nang tapat sa bayan,” she said.
“The Marcos administration has failed the victims and survivors of the South Cotabato tragedy. Countless more Filipino children remain at risk of becoming casualties of this government’s incompetence and neglect,” Duterte said.
Her criticism came as the government stepped up its response to the shooting, the third deadly school shooting in the Philippines since June.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a thorough investigation into the attack, including how the student obtained a firearm and managed to bring it inside the school. He also directed the Department of Education, Department of the Interior and Local Government and Philippine National Police to review measures adopted following previous school shootings.
Authorities are separately examining gun storage and the alleged shooter’s online activities as possible factors in the attack.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the firearm used in the shooting belonged to the student’s father, a Department of Education official who owned three licensed firearms. Authorities said the teenager gained access to the weapon after breaking into the container where the guns were stored.
Police said another firearm was surrendered to authorities while a third had earlier been reported lost.
Investigators also found that the teenager had familiarity with firearms because his father had occasionally brought him to a shooting range.
The circumstances have prompted the DILG to consider stronger safeguards governing licensed firearms, particularly their storage in homes where minors may gain access.
Remulla said the department was considering asking the Supreme Court to clarify whether authorities could inspect the homes of licensed gun owners to determine whether their firearms are properly secured.
The DILG is also looking into the teenager’s online activity after investigators examined his cellphone.
Remulla said the alleged shooter had been “heavily into the deep, dark web,” which he suggested may have influenced the teenager’s behavior. Authorities also reported finding evidence of extensive exposure to violent online material.
The DILG chief said he would coordinate with the Department of Information and Communications Technology on measures addressing minors’ exposure to harmful online content.
The DILG and DICT are also expected to seek congressional action on possible restrictions on minors’ social media use as authorities examine firearm access, school security and online risks in the aftermath of the South Cotabato tragedy./PN
