Metro Manila, Philippines – Malacañang rejected Vice President Sara Duterte’s call for stronger intelligence gathering following the deadly shooting at a public high school in Tacloban City, saying students should not be treated as security threats and that such comments fail to address the root causes of the tragedy.
In a statement, Duterte expressed concern over the shooting at San Jose National High School, which left several students dead and injured, and said the incident exposed shortcomings in the government’s ability to identify threats before lives are lost.
“This tragedy also exposes the failure of the government to recognize the importance of intelligence gathering and identifying threats before lives are lost. We cannot continue reacting only after another child is hurt or killed,” she said.
Duterte also said learners must be protected from “radical influences,” whether from outside schools, online platforms, or individuals who take advantage of vulnerable young people.
In response, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro questioned whether Duterte was suggesting that students should be subjected to intelligence monitoring.
“Ang gusto bang sabihin ng ating vice president, dapat ini-intelligence gathering ang ating mga estudyante? Hindi naman po sila terorista,” she said on Tuesday, June 23.
[Translation: Is the vice president suggesting that our students should be subjected to intelligence gathering? They are not terrorists.]
Castro said initial information pointed to issues involving minors and possible exposure to violent online content rather than security threats.
The Palace official also cited a 2019 classroom shooting in Calamba City during the Duterte administration, arguing that such incidents cannot always be prevented through intelligence operations.
“Bakit hindi nakita sa intelligence report ng kaniyang ama ang nangyaring school shooting noon?” she asked.
[Translation: Why was that school shooting not seen in the intelligence reports during her father’s administration?]
“May mga pangyayari talagang hindi agad maiiwasan, lalo na kung estudyante at menor de edad ang sangkot at hindi naman mga terorista,” she added.
[Translation: There are incidents that cannot always be prevented, especially when those involved are students and minors, not terrorists.]
Castro also criticized Duterte for focusing on criticism instead of offering recommendations.
“Sa susunod na pupunahin niya ang gobyerno, tanungin ninyo kung ano ang kaniyang rekomendasyon,” she said.
[Translation: The next time she criticizes the government, ask her what her recommendations are.]
