The allegations that the two Grade 9 suspects in the San Jose National High School shooting incident were victims of bullying must not be ignored.

Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno has placed a spotlight on this detail as he called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to address the persistent “culture of silence” among bullying victims within the classroom.

"The shooting incident is extremely alarming and troubling, as schools are meant to be safe spaces for students. Bullying has no place in our educational institutions," Diokno said on Tuesday, June 23.

Diokno cited recent findings of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (Edcom II), which showed that bullying can escalate into coordinated attacks, leading to fear, absenteeism, and school avoidance among students.

"We won't see an end to this situation unless we address the problem of the culture of silence among victims of bullying," said the lawyer-legislator.

“Ang sagot sa karahasan ay hindi karahasan. Kailangan nating tugunan ang mga ugat ng problema—mula sa mga pagkukulang sa tahanan, paaralan, at online spaces, hanggang sa mga butas sa regulasyon ng baril at sa pagpapatupad nito,” he added.

(The answer to violence is not violence. We need to address the roots of the problem—from shortcomings at home, in schools, and online spaces, to gaps in gun regulation and enforcement.)

On Monday, two boys aged 14 and 15 reportedly entered the particular school in Tacloban City, Leyte and the opened fire at their fellow students. Three minors ended up dead.

The shooters were armed with a .9 and .38 revolver pistol.

Diokno said that guns should never enter schools. As such, he called on concerned agencies to conduct a thorough investigation and examine possible lapses in school security.

“Kasabay nito, kailangang palakasin pa ang mga hakbang upang mapangalagaan ang kaligtasan ng ating mga mag-aaral,” he noted.

(At the same time, measures must be strengthened to safeguard the safety of our students.)

The incident has also reignited public debate over the accountability of minors involved in serious crimes and the effectiveness of existing juvenile justice mechanisms.

“Sa gitna ng trahedyang ito, nauunawaan natin ang galit ng taumbayan at ang panawagan para repasuhin ang Juvenile Justice Law. Nais kong linawin na sa kasalukuyang batas, may mekanismo na para panagutin at i-rehabilitate ang mga menor de edad, habang may pananagutan din ang mga magulang,” Diokno said.

(Amid this tragedy, we understand the public’s anger and the call to review the Juvenile Justice Law. I want to clarify that under the current law, there is already a mechanism to hold minors accountable and rehabilitate them, while parents also bear responsibility.)

The neophyte solon emphasized that schools must remain environments where students can learn and thrive, warning that fear and insecurity can undermine their ability to learn.

Diokno also urged DepEd to submit funding proposals for anti-bullying programs, including the expansion of its Learner TeleSafe helpline into regional-level platforms.

"Congress is prepared to support these efforts through both budgetary allocations and legislative measures that will strengthen protections against bullying and promote student well-being," he added.