Tinio calls for support and care for students and families in Zamboanga City school shooting; demands House probe

Rep. Antonio Tinio

ACT Teachers Partylist

PRESS STATEMENT Rep. Antonio Tinio ACT Teachers Party-list August 18, 2026

House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio has called for comprehensive care and support for students at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University school shooting. He also demanded a House investigation into escalating school violence following the Zamboanga City tragedy that killed two students.

Tinio stressed that the incident reflects systemic failures in school support infrastructure, not isolated criminal behavior.

“The Zamboanga City tragedy exposes chronic understaffing, and inadequate psychosocial support in Philippine schools. Public schools like the one in Tacloban City face shortages of 150,000 teachers and 160,000 classrooms nationwide, while thousands lack guidance counselors, nurses, and support personnel.,” he said.

Tinio extended his deepest sympathies to the families of those who lost their lives and to the entire school and community, echoing the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines in condemning the continuing occurrence of violent incidents inside schools involving young people.

“Manifestasyon ng kultura ng karahasan na pumasok sa ating mga paaralan ang patuloy na pagkakaroon ng mga mararahas na pangyayari sa loob ng kampus. Normalisado at itinanim sa isip ng maraming kabataan ang kultura ng karahasan dahil sa mga extrajudicial killings ng mga nakaraan at kasalukuyang administrasyon. Pati na din ang patuloy na karahasan at panunupil sa mga taong naghahangad ng pananagutan at paggalang sa karapatang pantao,” Tinio said.

Tinio rejected punitive and security-centered responses, warning that increased policing and surveillance would treat schools as war zones rather than learning communities. Instead, he called on Congress to investigate systemic factors contributing to school violence, including inadequate funding, overcrowding, and broader social conditions that normalize violence among youth.

He also raised alarm over how children can gain access to firearms, calling for a thorough investigation and accountability for those responsible for this grave failure to safeguard young people.

“Tuklasin kung saan nanggaling ang baril, paano ito nakarating sa kamay ng bata, at sino ang responsable sa pagbabantay nito. Panagutin ang mga nagpabaya sa pag secure ng armas ang bawat buhay na nakitil,” he demanded.

Tinio further pointed to the deteriorating quality of education brought about by long-standing neglect in funding and support, as well as an orientation that molds young people into commodities and sources of cheap labor for the global market, and a curriculum that dilutes and strips away their humanity and nationalism.

“Hindi dapat nakokompromiso dahil sa budget cuts ang buhay ng mga bata. Sapat na guidance counselors, nurses, at support personnel ang dapat sa bawat paaralan. Resulta ng patuloy na kapabayaan sa sistema ng edukasyon ang pinapakita ng Zamboanga City tragedy ,” said the Deputy Minority leader.

Tinio demanded substantial increases in education budget to hire additional counselors and nurses, construct classrooms to reduce overcrowding, and implement comprehensive mental health programs. He emphasized that genuine school safety requires sustained public investment and treating schools as communities of care and learning, not police enforcement.

“Mga guro na may oras para sa kanila at mga counselors na nakikinig ang mga bata ang kailangan, hindi mas maraming pulis,” he stressed.

Tinio urgently called for prioritizing funding for and strengthening mental and psychosocial support and services in schools and communities, alongside a curriculum that strengthens young people’s understanding of human rights, social responsibility, and their value as human beings and citizens.

As Congress deliberates on the proposed 2027 national budget, Tinio challenged the Marcos Jr. administration and fellow lawmakers to confront the real crises facing our schools and communities and fund their solutions.

“Public resources must go to education and other basic social services, not corruption, militarization, repression, and projects that benefit only a few while perpetuating a rotten system of inequality, violence, and impunity,” he declared.

The House investigation must result in legislation strengthening student support systems and creating a genuine culture of care within Philippine schools and not militarized ones.