Senator Raffy Tulfo expressed deep concern over the shooting incident that occurred inside San Jose National High School in Tacloban City on June 22 which claimed the lives of three students and left several others injured.
According to Tulfo, the incident points to lapses not only on the part of the school and parents, who are expected to guide their children, but also on the part of the Department of Education (DepEd).
“I have repeatedly urged the Department of Education to immediately address the growing incidents of violence in schools and strengthen campus security by deploying security guards equipped with metal detectors to ensure that students’ belongings are inspected before entering school premises,” the legislator said.
“It is clear that the DepEd fell short in ensuring the safety and protection of our students.”
“It is unfortunate that this recommendation appears to have gone without immediate action. It is clear that the DepEd fell short in ensuring the safety and protection of our students,” the lawmaker pointed out.
“I first made this recommendation in August 2025. Nearly a year has passed, yet it has still not been fully implemented, while cases of school-recorded violence continue to rise. We should not wait for more people to get hurt or for more lives to be lost before taking action,” the senator added.
It can be recalled that as early as August 12, 2025, during a Senate Committee on Basic Education hearing, he had already urged the Department of Education to take immediate action in response to the escalating violence in schools.
Tulfo’s recommendation came after two consecutive school shooting incidents that occurred in the same month: the shooting of a teacher by a student at Balabagan Trade School in Lanao del Sur on August 4, 2025, and the killing of a Grade 8 student who was shot by her former boyfriend inside their classroom at Sta. Rosa Integrated School in Nueva Ecija on August 7, 2025.
During the hearing, he recommended to DepEd Undersecretary Filimon Javier that security measures in public schools be strengthened through the deployment of security guards equipped with metal detectors. Javier agreed with the proposal.
Tulfo also revisited the alarming incidents of violence linked to the worsening problem of bullying during the Senate Committee on Basic Education hearing on March 17, 2026. He urged the DepEd to further strengthen the implementation of anti-bullying measures, including the mandatory installation of CCTV cameras in classrooms and other common areas within school campuses.
Several months later, despite the issuance of DepEd Memorandum Order No. 90, s. 2025, incidents of violence in schools continue to increase. Tulfo noted that his earlier recommendations, which could have helped prevent crimes on campus and facilitate the gathering of evidence, have yet to be fully implemented.
In light of the recent tragedy, he immediately called DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara on June 22 to follow up on the department’s response and inquire about the measures being taken following the latest incident of school violence.
According to Angara, based on the initial investigation, the school in Tacloban had no perimeter fence. Although security guards were present, the education chief said the two armed students were still able to enter through the back of the campus.
The education head also shared that a recent stabbing incident had likewise occurred at a school in Cavite, where the suspect was also able to gain access because the school lacked a perimeter fence.
He added that the DepEd will coordinate with local government units (LGUs) to utilize the Special Education Fund (SEF) for the construction of perimeter fences in public schools under their jurisdiction, as well as for the procurement of metal detectors to further strengthen campus security.
“Ensure that all public schools are provided with adequate security guards and CCTV cameras.”
In addition, Tulfo urged Angara to ensure that all public schools are provided with adequate security guards and CCTV cameras through their respective Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE).
Earlier, Tulfo filed Senate Bill No. 441 or “An Act Expanding the Coverage of Republic Act No. 10627, otherwise known as the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013.” Among its key provisions is the mandatory installation of CCTV cameras in schools to aid investigations of school-related violence and strengthen the implementation of anti-bullying policies, recognizing bullying as one of the root causes of violent incidents in schools.
“With the increasing number of violent incidents in schools, many of which involve students themselves, it is high time that this measure be enacted into law,” he stressed.
Tulfo is also set to file a Senate Resolution calling for an investigation into the Tacloban shooting and similar incidents to hold accountable all negligent officials, address existing gaps in the implementation of the DepEd’s anti-bullying policies and safety measures, and put an end to the recurring acts of violence in schools that continue to claim innocent lives.
