In a statement Monday morning, September 21, Duterte said the incident showed that violence could happen in schools and argued that prioritizing “political consolidation over fundamental governance” compromises the protection of children.
She also accused the administration of failing to ensure that Filipinos live in safe and peaceful communities, and criticized what she described as the government’s focus on “political survival and consolidation.”
“The Marcos administration has failed the victims and survivors of the South Cotabato tragedy,” Duterte said, adding that more Filipino children remain at risk because of what she called government “incompetence and neglect.”
The Sept. 18 shooting at Banga National High School left three people dead, including the shooter, and eight others injured.
Duterte ended her statement by saying: “We deserve better leadership than this.”
Vice President Sara Duterte