Claire Castro Says She Did Not Blame Teachers for School Violence
CLAIRE CASTRO -The Malacañang Press Officer stood by her controversial remarks about teachers following the August 18, 2026 shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University Grade School in Santa Maria, Zamboanga City. The incident left two people dead and several others injured.
Castro drew criticism after saying that parents and schools have a shared responsibility to guide young people and help prevent violence. She also pointed to instances where some teachers allegedly fail to properly teach respect and good behavior.
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) NCR Union and other educators condemned her remarks. They said it was unfair to blame teachers, especially those working despite concerns over low pay and limited school resources.
During a Malacañang press briefing on August 19, Castro clarified that she was not blaming teachers for violence in schools. She said her remarks may have been misunderstood and taken out of context.
Castro maintained that teachers play an important role in shaping students’ behavior and are often considered second parents in schools. She also claimed that there are cases where some teachers do not properly fulfill this responsibility and said teachers should help address inappropriate behavior among their fellow educators.
She emphasized that she respects teachers and noted that her late mother was a public school teacher. Castro said she understood why some educators were upset but insisted that she never accused all teachers of being responsible for school violence.
When asked if she would apologize to teachers who were offended, Castro did not give a direct apology. Instead, she explained that her intention was to remind teachers of their important role and clarify what she said.
Castro maintained that there was nothing in her original statement that required an apology. She said the controversy came from what she described as a wrong interpretation of her remarks.
She reiterated that her comments were meant as a reminder rather than an accusation and called for teachers to work together in guiding students and promoting good behavior in schools.
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