DAVAO CITY(July 1) — A shooting outside a graduation venue in Davao de Oro has renewed calls for tighter school security, stronger youth intervention programs and greater attention to mental health, with Sen. Bong Go warning against treating such incidents as isolated cases.
Go expressed alarm over the June 25 shooting outside Kolehiyo ng Pantukan in Pantukan town, where a man who had attended the school’s graduation ceremony was shot shortly after the event.
The victim was rushed to a hospital, while the local government said it is coordinating with law enforcement authorities and providing assistance to the victim and his family.
The senator noted that the incident came just days after the June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, Leyte, where three students were killed and several others were injured. Police said the suspects in that case were minors, sparking nationwide discussions on school safety, youth violence, bullying, firearm access and mental health.
“It is heartbreaking that another shooting happened only days after the tragedy in Tacloban,” Go said, adding that the country should not wait for more lives to be lost before strengthening measures to protect students and school communities.
As chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth, Go said the Tacloban shooting should prompt a thorough review of school safety protocols, youth development policies and mental health programs, stressing that violence involving young people goes beyond peace and order concerns.
He said problems affecting children often begin at home, in school or within the community, making early intervention essential to prevent violence before it occurs.
The senator also said lawmakers should carefully review the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act to determine whether reforms are needed while preserving its focus on both accountability and rehabilitation.
According to Go, any amendments to the law should ensure that victims receive justice, offenders are held accountable under existing legal processes, and children in conflict with the law are given opportunities for guidance and rehabilitation.
He likewise called for a closer examination of how firearms continue to find their way into schools and public gatherings, urging authorities to conduct thorough investigations into both shootings.
Go appealed to the public to avoid spreading unverified information while investigations are ongoing, saying the priority should be establishing the facts, assisting victims and preventing similar incidents from happening again.
He added that his office remains ready to extend assistance to affected families while continuing to support measures aimed at making schools safer and protecting the welfare of Filipino youth.
