Jamaine Punzalan

Police investigators walk in front of the school entrance after a shooting incident at a high school compound in Tacloban City, Leyte province on June 22, 2026. At least three teenaged students were killed in the shooting. Noel  Sianosa, AFP

Article (news)

Raine Musñgi

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178218408312420260622-tacloban-school-shooting-sjns-AFP-3 (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Police investigators walk in front of the school entrance after a shooting incident at a high school compound in Tacloban City, Leyte province on June 22, 2026. At least three teenaged students were killed in the shooting. Noel  Sianosa, AFP</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Department of Education is treating the recent deadly <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/6/23/tacloban-school-shooting-planned-shooter-got-gun-from-policewoman-aunt-pnp-0858">school shooting in Tacloban City</a> and<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/6/21/grade-11-student-stabbed-by-schoolmate-in-cavite-1109"> two separate stabbing incidents in Cavite</a> as isolated cases for now, but officials said security measures across schools would be reassessed amid growing public concern over student safety.</p><p>Speaking from Tacloban City, DepEd Undersecretary Malcolm Garma said the incidents should not yet be viewed as evidence of a nationwide trend.</p><p>&quot;As of now, we still can consider these as isolated cases, considering the number of schools all over the Philippines,&quot; Garma said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/6/23/tacloban-school-shooting-planned-shooter-got-gun-from-policewoman-aunt-pnp-0858">Tacloban school shooting &#x27;planned&#x27;, shooter got gun from policewoman-aunt: PNP </a></div><p>Still, Garma acknowledged that some schools could need stronger security measures both inside and outside campus grounds.</p><p>&quot;There are areas that probably have not yet fully looked into security, not only inside the school but also within the community,&quot; he said. </p><p>The official said DepEd plans to work more closely with the Philippine National Police, barangay officials, tanods, and community-based security groups to prevent similar incidents.</p><p>&quot;We will be able to intensify our security measures outside of the schools so that it can already deter and prevent such acts from happening,&quot; Garma said. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/6/23/deped-tacloban-school-shooting-suspects-entered-through-fence-not-main-gate-1050">DepEd: School shooting suspects entered through fence</a></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wuN2YJvAh-8?&amp;pp=0gcJCT8LAYcqIYzv&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>According to the education department, security requirements vary depending on a school&#x27;s population and physical size.</p><p>&quot;There are schools that are really large. It&#x27;s not enough to have guards at the gate. We have to have roving guards also,&quot; Garma explained. </p><p>The tragedy has also reignited debate over student mental health support and the shortage of guidance professionals in Philippine schools.</p><p>When asked whether schools have enough counselors and psychologists before crises occur, Garma admitted that recruitment remains a challenge.</p><p>&quot;We&#x27;re not able to hire full-fledged guidance counselors,&quot; he said. &quot;In view of that, we are hiring what we call guidance counselor associates who will be performing the same function in the schools.&quot;  </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/01/31/23/number-of-students-suffering-from-mental-health-issues-growing">Number of students suffering from mental health issues growing</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/11/new-law-opens-up-school-counselor-jobs-for-psych-guidance-counselor-graduates-1117">New law opens up school counselor jobs for psych, guidance counselor graduates </a></div><p>DepEd&#x27;s immediate response has focused on psychosocial first aid for students, teachers, and school personnel affected by the shooting.</p><p>&quot;Those who have witnessed the crime will be able to ventilate what happened and be relieved of their trauma as much as possible,&quot; Garma said. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/26/15-000-school-counselor-associates-to-be-hired-before-end-of-2026-2226">15,000 school counselor associates to be hired before end of 2026 </a></div><p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered increased protection in schools. Several lawmakers have called for investigations, while ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio has urged increased funding for counselors, nurses, and mental health programs.</p><p>Meanwhile, Sen. Francis Pangilinan emphasized enforcement of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, while Sen. Robin Padilla <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/22/padilla-wants-age-of-criminal-responsibility-down-to-10-years-old-after-tacloban-school-shooting-1813">renewed calls to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility.</a></p><p>For DepEd, however, the immediate priority remains helping victims recover and determining whether warning signs or security lapses were missed before the attack.</p><p>&quot;Our priority is really to make sure that the victims are being treated and accommodated well and ample support and assistance are given to the victims and their families,&quot; Garma said.  </p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rkkBJER7nJ0?&amp;t=4s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div>

<p>The Department of Education is treating the recent deadly school shooting in Tacloban City and two separate stabbing incidents in Cavite as isolated cases for now, but officials said security measures across schools would be reassessed amid growing public concern over student safety. </p>

The Department of Education is treating the recent deadly school shooting in Tacloban City and two separate stabbing incidents in Cavite as isolated cases for now, but officials said security measures across schools would be reassessed amid growing public concern over student safety.

DepEd calls Tacloban shooting, Cavite stabbing ‘isolated cases’, but orders security review

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DepEd calls Tacloban shooting, Cavite stabbing ‘isolated cases’, but orders security review

Raine Musñgi,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 23, 2026 11:08 AM PHT

Read More:

Tacloban

school shooting

shooting

gun violence

schools

minors crime

children in conflict with the law

underage

bullying

DepEd

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