President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. instructed all relevant government agencies to conduct a prompt and thorough investigation into a series of school-based violence incidents reported in Luzon and Mindanao over the past week.
“This really needs to be investigated, especially since it involves minors and mental health is becoming an issue among the youth,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a mix of English and Filipino on Thursday.
In a Palace briefing, Castro announced that Mr. Marcos ordered the Department of Education (DepEd), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to work together in investigating these recent incidents.
She said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has been directed to assist in the evaluation of the implementation of child protection policies in schools nationwide.
“We will not rest on this and the concerned agencies will take immediate action, and immediately,” Castro said.
In response to the school-based violence, Education Secretary Sonny Angara issued a memorandum on August 8 instructing all schools to tighten security measures. The directive includes mandatory bag inspections, increased visibility of security personnel, and stricter control of school entry and exit points.
The Education Department also called on schools to strengthen their mechanisms for reporting and addressing incidents involving child abuse, bullying, violence, exploitation, discrimination, and gang-related activity on campus.
