CPD urges family, school, community action after Zamboanga shooting

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) called for stronger family support, adolescent development programs and school-based child protection measures following the recent school shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University (AdZU) that left two junior high school students dead.

In a statement, the CPD expressed its condolences to the families and school community affected by the incident, while stressing that preventing violence involving young people requires efforts beyond law enforcement and school discipline.

“School violence is not solely a law enforcement or school discipline concern. It is also a family, developmental, mental health, and community issue that demands a whole-of-society response,” the commission said.

“Every tragedy involving young people should compel us to ask not only how violence occurred, but how it could have been prevented,” it added.

The statement was issued after the Aug. 18 shooting at the Jesuit-run Ateneo de Zamboanga University in Zamboanga City, where a Grade 9 student shot a Grade 10 schoolmate inside the school building before later taking his own life. Investigators had yet to establish the motive or determine how the firearm was brought onto campus.

READ: Ateneo de Zamboanga shooting: 2 students dead

The incident also affected other students. The Zamboanga City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said medical teams attended to 21 students who experienced panic attacks, anxiety and minor abrasions, while two people were brought to a hospital.

Prevention starts in families

The CPD said preventing school violence should begin before a crisis occurs, including in families, where children can develop respect, empathy, self-discipline and peaceful ways of resolving conflicts.

“Responsible parenthood extends far beyond providing food, education, and material needs,” the commission said.

It said parents and caregivers should also be emotionally present, maintain open communication, recognize changes in their children’s behavior, teach them to manage emotions constructively and help them navigate the challenges of adolescence.

“Families remain the first and most powerful protective environment in shaping responsible, resilient, and compassionate citizens,” the CPD said.

The commission described adolescence as a critical stage of human development, when young people undergo rapid emotional, psychological and social changes while becoming increasingly influenced by peers, digital platforms and their surrounding environment.

“These realities underscore the importance of investing in adolescent health and development programs that equip young people with life skills, emotional resilience, sound decision-making, healthy relationships, and the confidence to seek help when confronted with difficulties,” it added.

Strengthen protection, counseling

The CPD also called for stronger school-based child protection mechanisms, guidance and counseling services, psychosocial support, anti-bullying initiatives and referral systems.

These, it said, should help identify and assist learners experiencing emotional distress or behavioral risks before problems escalate into violence.

“Schools must remain safe spaces where every learner feels protected, respected, and supported,” the commission said.

READ: Zamboanga school shooting alarms CWC, vows to boost child safety

The CPD also highlighted the role of parents and caregivers in helping adolescents navigate online spaces.

“Beyond monitoring children’s online activities, families should actively engage adolescents in meaningful conversations about responsible social media use, respectful online behavior, cyberbullying, and the responsible consumption of digital content,” the commission said.

“In today’s interconnected world, digital parenting has become an essential component of responsible parenthood,” it added.

Wider community response

The commission stressed that families should not be left to address youth safety and violence on their own.

“It takes a village to raise a child,” the CPD said, calling for government agencies, local government units, schools, health providers, faith-based organizations, civil society, the private sector, communities and families to work together.

The CPD said strong school-family-community partnerships, accessible mental health services, youth development programs, positive parenting initiatives and early intervention systems are needed to help prevent violence and promote lifelong well-being.

“The commission calls on all sectors to strengthen programs that promote Responsible Parenthood, Adolescent Health and Development, positive parenting, mental health, and youth empowerment,” it said. “By investing in stronger families and healthier adolescents today, we build safer schools, more peaceful communities, and a more resilient nation tomorrow.”

The commission said it would continue advancing policies and programs intended to strengthen Filipino families and empower adolescents to become “healthy, responsible, productive, and socially engaged citizens.”

“Let these tragedies serve as a call to action for all of us. Every adolescent deserves more than protection from violence—they deserve families that communicate, schools that care, communities that listen, and institutions that act before warning signs become irreversible loss,” the CPD said.

The Zamboanga shooting was the second fatal school shooting in the Philippines in two months. In June, three students were killed and at least 20 others were wounded or injured in a shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City.

After the Tacloban incident, the Department of Education (DepEd) announced that active-shooter drills would be conducted in public schools nationwide.

READ: ‘Do it safely’: Psychologist cautions DepEd on active shooter drills

Following the Zamboanga shooting, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said a review of school safety policies may also be needed, noting that an existing police security-monitoring policy covered public schools and could be reviewed to include private schools. /dm