Sen. Loren Legarda spokes about the recent shooting incident at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University
Senator Loren Legarda called for immediate action to address the series of violent incidents in schools following the shooting incident at Ateneo de Zamboanga University in Zamboanga City.
In June, the country was shocked by a shooting incident that happened in a school in Tacloban City. This was caused by two male students.
Two months later, another school shooting took place nin Zamboanga. Reports stated that the suspect, whose father was a Bureau of Customs officer, was a Grade 7 and an honor student.
In a recent statement, based on the article in Bandera, Sen. Loren Legarda expressed deep sadness over the incident.
The senator also extended her condolences to the families who lost loved ones in the incident. Legarda said that the incidents of violence within schools should no longer be ignored, especially since similar events have already been recorded in Cavite, Tacloban, and Bacolod.
“Ang sunud-sunod na insidente ng karahasan sa mga paaralan ay malinaw na panawagan para sa agarang aksyon. Hindi dapat basta naaabot ang mga baril, lalo na ng mga menor de edad at mga walang pahintulot,” the lawmaker said.
She also pointed out that stricter law enforcement and stronger safeguards are needed to prevent guns from entering schools and falling into the hands of those who should not possess them.
Legarda also said that tt must be determined how the gun used in the incident was obtained. For her, if there is a loophole in the law, it must be fixed. She added that if the problem is enforcement, it must be enforced strictly and without exception, and stressed that gun ownership carries a heavy responsibility,
“Walang estudyante ang dapat makapasok na may dalang baril. Walang baril ang dapat madaling maabot ng bata,” the Senator pointed out.
Legarda also emphasized that legal gun owners bear a significant responsibility to ensure their firearms do not fall into the hands of individuals who should not possess them.
For the lawmaker, the shooting incident in Zamboanga is another clear reminder of the need to strengthen measures to keep schools safe for students, teachers, and other members of the community.
She also extend her condolences and prayers to the grieving families, the injured, and the entire school community, with the emphasis that the presence of guns should not be allowed to be a common thing in the lives of the children and in schools.
“Hindi tayo dapat paulit-ulit na magluksa sa pagkawala ng kabataan at saka na lamang muling maghintay ng susunod na trahedya. Mas nararapat ang mas ligtas na kinabukasan para sa ating mga anak,” Sen. Loren Legarda said.
