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'Act now': VP Sara urges stronger school safety measures after Tacloban school tragedy
Philippines
National
'Act now': VP Sara urges stronger school safety measures after Tacloban school tragedy
'Act now': VP Sara urges stronger school safety measures after Tacloban school tragedy
Duterte said the San Jose National High School incident should serve as a 'wake-up call' for the government to strengthen learner protection
Published Jun 23, 2026 12:01 pm
At A Glance
- VP Sara called for stronger school safety measures following the deadly incident at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City.
- The Vice President urged the government to address gaps in learner protection and threat detection.
- Duterte said school safety, youth welfare, and national security are closely interconnected.
Vice President Sara Duterte, who previously served as Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), called for stronger school safety measures and enhanced learner protection following the tragic incident at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City. (Inday Sara Duterte / Facebook)
Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, June 23, called for stronger school safety measures following the deadly incident at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, saying the tragedy should serve as a wake-up call for the government to improve learner protection and threat detection.
“The continuing loss of young lives should serve as a wake-up call to this administration,” Duterte said in a statement. “The government must act now to make our schools safer and to better protect our learners,” she added.
Duterte, who previously served as secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) from 2022 to 2024, made the remarks amid growing concerns over school safety and learner protection following incidents involving students on and off school premises.
Schools should be safe places for children
Duterte called for stronger school safety measures and learner protection following the tragic incident at San Jose National High School that left students dead and others injured.
“We express our deep sadness and concern over the tragic incident at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, which resulted in the loss of young lives and injuries to learners,” she said.
The Vice President also expressed grief over the incident, saying no parent expects a child to become a victim of violence while attending school.
“No parent sends a child to school expecting that child to become a victim of violence,” she added.
Previous learner-related tragedies
Duterte noted that the Tacloban tragedy is not an isolated case, citing previous incidents involving learners, including the deaths of two student-athletes during a basketball training program.
“This is not the first time that learners have been harmed either inside our schools or during school activities,” Duterte said.
“With the tragedies that have befallen our learners, including the loss of two student-athletes during a basketball training program, the government must confront the serious gaps in our ability to protect the youth,” she added.
Call to protect youth from harmful influences
Duterte stressed the need to shield students from radical influences that may come from outside school premises, online platforms, or individuals who exploit the vulnerabilities of young people.
“Our learners must be protected from radical influences, whether they come from outside the school, from online platforms, or from individuals who take advantage of the vulnerabilities of young people,” Duterte said.
Duterte also emphasized the importance of protecting learners from abuse, neglect, and violence within the institutions entrusted with their welfare.
“More importantly, they must be protected from abuse, neglect, and violence within the very institutions entrusted with their welfare,” she added.
Government urged to improve threat detection
Duterte said the incident exposed shortcomings in government efforts to identify and address threats before they result in the loss of life.
“This tragedy also exposes the failure of the government to recognize the importance of intelligence gathering and identifying threats before lives are lost,” Duterte said.
“We cannot continue reacting only after another child is hurt or killed,” she added.
Education linked to national security
Duterte also noted that education goes beyond academic instruction and is closely linked to the values, influences, and environments that shape young people.
“Education is not only about academics,” Duterte said. “What our children learn, who influences them, and the values they carry with them outside the classroom are deeply intertwined with national security and stability,” she added.