The senator extended his condolences to the victim’s family and said his office was providing assistance to the bereaved.
He urged law enforcement and other concerned agencies to conduct a thorough investigation to ensure accountability and prevent similar incidents.
Villar also appealed to schools, parents, teachers and communities to work together in promoting respect, empathy and peaceful conflict resolution among students.
The incident, he said, highlights the urgency of passing Senate Bill 2321, or the Learning Institution’s Guaranteed Threat Avoidance and Safety Act.
The proposed measure would require schools to conduct coordinated threat assessments, establish direct emergency hotlines with police, fire and rescue units, strengthen parent notification systems during emergencies, and ensure the availability of first-aid equipment and trained medical personnel.
It also seeks to increase police visibility around schools, deploy trained security guards, install closed-circuit television cameras and appropriate security screening systems, and require regular safety training for students, teachers and school personnel.
“We can no longer bring back the life lost in this painful tragedy, but we cannot remain idle,” Villar said.
