(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has assured the families of the victims and survivors of the deadly San Jose National High School (SJNHS) shooting that government assistance will continue beyond the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, with a focus on long-term psychosocial recovery.
During his visit to Tacloban City on Wednesday, June 24, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian met with the families of the three students who were killed in the June 22 campus shooting and pledged sustained support, including financial assistance, funeral aid, and counseling services.
“The kind of grief they are experiencing will take time to heal. Their needs go beyond material assistance or financial support. They also need help in coping with the loss of their loved ones,” Gatchalian said.
He said DSWD social workers will continue providing psychosocial interventions not only to the bereaved families but also to the injured students, teachers, and other members of the San Jose National High School community affected by the incident.
Gatchalian emphasized that helping survivors recover emotionally requires sustained collaboration between the national government and the local government unit to ensure that families of the victims, the injured, and the school community continue receiving appropriate care and support.
While visiting the wake of Chris Lorenz Fabian—one of the students who died after reportedly attempting to stop one of the suspects from entering their classroom—the DSWD chief also assured the family that the two minor suspects are now under the agency’s protective custody.
“The suspects are with us. They are not free. They have been turned into our custody and are currently staying in one of our facilities. We assure the families that the law is being followed. They are no longer in their community and will not be returning to their homes,” he said.
Gatchalian explained that the two minors are being handled in accordance with the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act while criminal proceedings continue.
Immediately after the shooting, DSWD Field Office VIII deployed social workers to provide psychological first aid and counseling to the victims’ families, injured students, teachers, and non-teaching personnel. The agency also extended financial assistance to the families of those who died and to individuals hospitalized due to the incident.
The DSWD secretary likewise appealed to the public to refrain from sharing graphic photos and videos of the shooting on social media, warning that such content could retraumatize survivors and deepen the grief of affected families.
Following his visit to the wake, Gatchalian checked on the condition of the injured students confined in hospitals before meeting with officials of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council and other concerned agencies to discuss the case management and rehabilitation of the two minors involved in the shooting.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
