A MASS was held for victims of the Tacloban City school shooting on Tuesday. (Tacloban City Information Office FB)
A Mass was held on Tuesday morning at the campus of San Jose National High School in Tacloban City for the victims of the school shooting Monday.
The Tacloban City information Office, in a Facebook post, said teachers, school personnel, and members of the community gathered in prayer and solidarity, offering comfort, healing, and support to the victims and their families.
Fr. Ivo Velasquez blessed the school premises and prayed for peace, protection, and strength for the entire school community.
The Tacloban City government, Department of Education, Philippine National Police, and other concerned stakeholders earlier convened at San Jose National High School for an emergency briefing on the incident.
Department of Education Secretary Sonny Angara, City Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez, and Vice Mayor Raymund A. Romualdez were among those present.
The Philippine National Police presented its security assessment and investigation report on the incident. The PNP said that the confirmed number of fatalities remains at three.
Learners, teachers, and parents will undergo psychological first aid from June 24 to 26. The Department of Health aims to cover 100 percent of the victims' medical expenses while the PNP will increase police visibility in schools as a deterrent measure.
Mayor Romualdez condemned the incident and expressed concern over the growing influence of social media on the youth.
He urged teachers to remain vigilant and continue supporting their students during this difficult time. “Let's not live in fear. Let's be vigilant. Let's be strong. We need you now, especially teachers,” he said.
Angara encouraged all stakeholders to “collaborate and cooperate to keep our schools safe and prevent incidents like this from happening again.”
Police will closely coordinate with concerned agencies, local government units, and school authorities to implement appropriate interventions, enhance campus security, and prevent the recurrence of similar incidents while ensuring that all actions are undertaken in accordance with existing laws and child protection policies.