Malacañang to Sara Duterte: Students are not terrorists

Malacañang on Tuesday hit back at Vice President Sara Duterte for saying that the Tacloban shooting incident exposed the government’s supposed failure to recognize the importance of intelligence gathering and identifying threats.

At a press conference, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that the minors involved in the shooting at the San Jose National High School on Monday “are not terrorists.”

“Ibig sabihin, estudyante dapat mino-monitor para sa intelligence gathering? Hindi sila mga terorista, sila ay mga estudyanteng mukhang di-umanong gumon lang sa online gaming na marahas,” Castro said.

(Does she mean that the students should be monitored for intelligence gathering? They are not terrorists, they are students who appear to be allegedly addicted to violent online gaming.)

“May mga pagkakataon po na hindi maiiwasan ang mga ganitong sitwasyon, especially sa pangyayaring ito—mga estudyante, mga menor de edad, hindi terorista,” she added.

(There are times when such situations cannot be avoided, especially in this incident—students and minors were involved, not terrorists.)

The Palace official was reacting to the statement of Duterte earlier in the day that the continuing loss of young lives should serve as a “wake-up call” to the Marcos administration.

The Vice President also urged the government to act now to make schools safer and to better protect learners.

Castro said that before criticizing the government, Duterte should give suggestions first.

“Sa susunod sana bago magbigay ng pamimintas at paninira ang Bise Presidente, itanong niyo sa kanya ano ang kanyang suhestyon,” she said.

(Next time, before criticizing and slandering the government, the Vice President should be asked for her suggestion.)

Castro likewise presented several news articles on attacks that occurred during the administration of the Vice President’s father, former president Rodrigo Duterte.

“Bakit kaya hindi niya tinuruan ang kanyang ama para maresolba o ma-counter ito agad?”

(Why didn't she teach his father to solve or counter these attackes immediately?)

“Magaling naman po ata siya magpuna, pero walang solusyon na naibibigay. Sana nagbigay siya ng solusyon,” she added.

(She seems good at criticizing, but she cannot provide any solution. I hope she gives a solution.) — RSJ, GMA News