Marcos Honors Students Lost to School Violence, Urges Stronger Child Protection

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday paid tribute to students who recently died in incidents of school violence, saying their deaths should serve as a reminder of the country’s shared responsibility to protect children. In his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA 2026) before a joint session of Congress, Marcos said the recent tragedies left a lasting impact on the victims’ families and the nation. “Ang mga nasawi nating mga mag-aaral kamakailan dala ng karahasan at kapabayaan ay nag-iwan ng malaking puwang sa kanilang pamilya, at mapait na aral din para sa ating lahat," he said. (Our students who recently lost their lives due to violence and negligence left a huge void in their families and a painful lesson for all of us.) The President extended his condolences to the families of the victims. “Sa mga magulang at kaanak ng mga nasawi at nasaktan dahil sa nangyaring karahasan sa mga paaralan, tanggapin po ninyo ang aming taimtim na pakikiramay,” he said. (To the parents and relatives of those who died and were injured because of the violence in schools, please accept our deepest condolences.) Marcos specifically mentioned Chris Lorenz Fabian, Joyancee Separa, and Ayessa Nicole Dazo, saying their courage and heroism should inspire the nation. “To the parents of Chris Lorenz Fabian, Joyancee Separa, and Ayessa Nicole Dazo: we are all so very proud of the unflinching bravery and heroic virtue that you have instilled in your children. They are an inspiration to us all,” he said. Marcos added that their actions embodied values needed during difficult times. Fabian was remembered for his final act of closing the classroom door in an effort to protect his classmates. Separa was among those inside the classroom and had recorded a video during the incident that later circulated online. Dazo, the youngest of the three victims, also died from gunshot wounds sustained in the shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City. “Their courage and selflessness — true Filipino qualities — are the virtues that these trying times call for," Marcos noted, highlighting that the protection of children should extend beyond the classroom, warning that digital platforms have exposed young people to harmful influences. “We must protect them from the harmful influences and forces that exploit their vulnerability: the corrosive influence of fake news; the unfettered exposure to pornography, even to minors; the constant depiction of casual violence; and the toxicity and hate culture pervasive in social media," he stated. Marcos added that these influences contribute to a range of social problems affecting young Filipinos. “These pernicious influences lead to issues of their mental health, rise in teenage pregnancies and HIV/AIDS cases, and other extremely harmful consequences.” In his SONA, President further noted that protecting children should be a shared responsibility. “We must all assume a community responsibility for our young people’s protection.” — RSJ, GMA News