Vice President Sara Duterte has criticized the Marcos administration following the deadly shooting at Banga National High School in South Cotabato, saying the tragedy highlights the need to refocus government efforts on public safety and the protection of children.
In a statement issued after the September 18 shooting, Duterte accused the administration of giving greater attention to political consolidation than to what she described as fundamental responsibilities of government.
“This reminds us that when a government prioritizes political consolidation over fundamental governance, the protection of children is inevitably compromised,” Duterte said.
Duterte also said the Marcos administration had failed the victims and survivors of the South Cotabato tragedy and claimed that other Filipino children remained at risk because of what she characterized as government incompetence and neglect.
She ended her statement by saying, “We deserve better leadership than this.”
Her remarks came after the shooting at Banga National High School that left three people dead, including the 16-year-old student suspected of carrying out the attack. Reports on the number of people injured initially varied as authorities continued verifying the casualties, with later reports putting the number at six to eight.
According to police and local officials, the Grade 9 student allegedly used a firearm belonging to his father, who works for the Department of Education, and opened fire at students inside the school before turning the weapon on himself.
Authorities are investigating how the minor obtained the firearm and was able to bring it into the school. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a thorough investigation into the incident and directed concerned agencies to examine existing school-safety measures.
The shooting has renewed national attention on firearm storage, school security, threat reporting and the ability of schools to respond to violent incidents.
The Department of Education has acknowledged the need to strengthen school security while also providing psychological first aid and psychosocial support to students, teachers and others affected by the attack.
Authorities are also investigating reports concerning the student’s alleged participation in an online “true crime” community. South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. has asked the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group to determine whether the online activity had any connection to the shooting.
Officials have cautioned against drawing conclusions about the alleged online connection while the investigation remains ongoing.
The Banga incident has also been placed within a wider discussion about school violence in the Philippines. Reports have identified deadly school attacks in Tacloban and Zamboanga City earlier in 2026, adding pressure on authorities to strengthen preventive measures and emergency preparedness.
Duterte’s criticism comes as the government works on its response to the South Cotabato shooting. Marcos has ordered agencies to identify gaps in school security and introduce additional measures to prevent similar incidents.
The investigation into the Banga shooting remains ongoing, including questions surrounding firearm access, school security and the circumstances preceding the attack.
The tragedy has placed renewed focus on how government agencies, schools, parents and law enforcement can work together to identify risks earlier, strengthen safeguards and protect students from violence.
