President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. paid tribute on Monday to the victims of the June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, honoring their bravery and extending his condolences to their families during his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA).
In his speech before a joint session of Congress, Marcos expressed sympathy to the families of students who were killed or injured in incidents of school violence, saying the tragedy served as a painful reminder of the need to better protect the country's youth.
"Ang mga nasawi nating mga mag-aaral kamakailan dala ng karahasan at kapabayaan ay nag-iwan ng malaking puwang sa kanilang pamilya, at mapait na aral din para sa ating lahat," Marcos said.
"Sa mga magulang at kaanak ng mga nasawi at nasaktan dahil sa nangyaring karahasan sa mga paaralan, tanggapin po ninyo ang aming taimtim na pakikiramay," he said.
"To the parents of Chris Lorenz Fabian, Joyancee Separa, and Ayessa Nicole Dazo: we are all so very proud of the unflinching bravery and heroic virtue that you have instilled in your children. They are an inspiration to us all," the President added.
Marcos said the "courage and selflessness" shown by the students reflected the values that Filipinos should uphold in difficult times.
"Their courage and selflessness — true Filipino qualities — are the virtues that these trying times call for," he added.
He urged the government, families, schools, churches, businesses, and local communities to work together to ensure the safety and well-being of young Filipinos.
Marcos stressed that protecting children is a shared responsibility, calling on all sectors of society to guide, support, and care for the country's youth to help prevent similar tragedies from happening again.
