President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed deep sorrow over the fatal school shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, describing the tragedy as "heartbreaking" as he ordered intensified safety measures in schools nationwide and extended financial assistance to the victims' families.
During a Malacañang press briefing on Wednesday, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said the President was deeply affected by the incident, which claimed the lives of students who reportedly sacrificed themselves to protect their classmates.
"Nakakadurog puso," Castro said, describing President Marcos' reaction to the tragedy. "Mga kabataan ang nabibiktima at mga kabataan din ang nambiktima. Walang katumbas ang buhay ng isang tao."
Castro said the President values every Filipino life and conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the families of those killed and injured in the shooting.
To provide immediate assistance, President Marcos approved more than P1 million in financial aid for the victims. According to the Office of the President, the families of the three students who died will each receive P150,000, while each of the 18 injured students will receive P50,000.
The assistance is separate from the relief already extended by government agencies, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under Secretary Rex Gatchalian and the Department of Education (DepEd) led by Secretary Sonny Angara.
Meanwhile, Castro said the Department of Education (DepEd) has further strengthened school safety policies following the tragedy. These include the installation of metal detectors, expanded CCTV camera systems, and closer coordination with parents and barangay officials to improve campus security.
Addressing public concerns over the minor suspects involved in the shooting, Castro clarified that under Philippine law, children in conflict with the law are placed in DSWD facilities for rehabilitation rather than regular detention facilities for adults.
"Ang intervention na ito ang pinapatupad ng batas para sa mga children in conflict with the law. Pero sisiguruhin ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. na makakamit ninyo ang hustisya," Castro said.
She added that while the juvenile justice system emphasizes rehabilitation, the government remains committed to ensuring accountability and justice for the victims and their families.
The Palace also highlighted the President's directive for education, law enforcement, health, and local government agencies to strengthen efforts aimed at protecting students from violence, neglect, and other threats affecting their welfare.
In a related development, Malacañang confirmed that the controversial online game GoreBox has been removed from the Google Play Store and Steam in the Philippines following government coordination with digital platforms.
President Marcos had earlier expressed opposition to violent gaming applications that may negatively influence young users. The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) announced that the game is no longer available for download in the country after restrictions were implemented.
According to the Palace, users who had previously downloaded the game before the restriction took effect can no longer access it.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) welcomed the swift cooperation of Google and Steam in promoting a safer online environment for Filipino youth.
The government had earlier ordered a temporary restriction on GoreBox after authorities revealed that one of the suspects in the Tacloban school shooting was an avid player of the game. Officials, however, have emphasized that the investigation into the incident remains ongoing as authorities continue to determine all factors surrounding the tragedy while reinforcing measures to prevent similar incidents in schools nationwide.
