TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Eastern Visayas (DSWD-8) has stressed that the fate of the two minors linked to the June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School, which killed three students and injured 20 others, rests entirely with the court.

DSWD-8 Regional Director Grace Subong said the agency’s role is limited to rehabilitation, psychological assessment, and submission of recommendations, but not the decision to release or detain the children in conflict with the law (CICL).

“Wala sa aming authority na palabasin siya or not because it is always the court’s decision,” Subong said.

She explained that social workers are tasked with evaluating the minors’ behavioral and psychological condition to determine whether they are responding positively to rehabilitation programs.

“The role of the social worker and the DSWD is to look into his state of thinking and behavior and determine if he is responding to rehabilitation. We only submit our recommendations to the court,” she added.

Subong also clarified that admission to a rehabilitation facility does not automatically guarantee a return to community life, noting that outcomes depend on continuous assessment.

“In some cases, we have even recommended that a child be transferred to jail if rehabilitation is not successful,” she said.

She added that the older of the two suspects may be transferred to a regular jail facility upon reaching the age of majority if rehabilitation efforts fail.

For the younger suspect, aged 14 and exempt from criminal liability under Republic Act No. 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, Subong said he may remain at the Regional Rehabilitation Center for the Youth (RRCY) in Tanauan, Leyte until he demonstrates meaningful behavioral reform.

“Kung hindi pa rin siya magbago, hanggang sa kanyang pagtanda doon siya sa RRCY… Hangga’t hindi siya mareform o marehabilitate, mananatili siya sa facility,” she said.
DSWD-8 Legal Unit Head Atty. Jonalyndie Chua explained that although the younger suspect is exempt from criminal liability, he remains under a court-supervised diversion program.

“Since the crime committed carries a penalty of more than six years, the diversion will be implemented by the court,” Chua said, adding that the program functions as a binding agreement between the court and the child outlining required conditions for reform.
Chua emphasized that exemption from criminal liability does not mean absence of responsibility.

“Hindi ibig sabihin na dahil 14 years old siya ay wala na siyang pananagutan,” she said.
The two minors are currently under strict supervision at the DSWD-managed Regional Rehabilitation Center for the Youth (RRCY) in Tanauan, Leyte, where they are prohibited from leaving the facility or accessing mobile phones, the internet, television, and outside communication except through assigned social workers and house parents.

Authorities said the restrictions are part of an intensive rehabilitation and assessment program while legal proceedings continue.

(ROEL T.AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-8) has intensified its inspection drive on major construction projects in Ormoc City and Northern Samar to ensure strict compliance with labor laws and occupational safety and health (OSH) standards.

The two-day High Impact High Visibility Inspection (HIHVI) conducted on June 22–23 forms part of the government’s strengthened campaign to safeguard workers’ welfare and promote safe and decent workplaces, in line with directives to strictly enforce labor standards nationwide.

In Northern Samar, the DOLE-Northern Samar Field Office inspected selected construction sites in Catarman to assess compliance with labor regulations and workplace safety requirements.

The inspection team, led by Provincial Head Engr. Primo Guarin, was joined by representatives from the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and the Philippine National Police in Catarman. Prior to the field inspection, participating agencies held a coordination meeting to align enforcement strategies and strengthen inter-agency collaboration.

In Ormoc City, the DOLE-West Leyte Field Office, together with partner agencies, inspected six ongoing construction projects inside the compound of a large energy firm.

The Ormoc inspection team was led by Engr. Joseph Niño Pey of DOLE Regional Office VIII and Darwinda Labastida of DOLE-West Leyte Field Office, with support from personnel headed by Rosilito Ygaña. They were joined by representatives from the Energy Development Corporation, Bureau of Fire Protection, Office of the Building Official, Social Security System (SSS), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and the Pag-IBIG Fund.

Across both sites, labor inspectors evaluated compliance with key labor and safety requirements, including the provision and proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), installation of safety signage, emergency preparedness measures, and adherence to minimum wage and other statutory labor benefits.

Employers and workers were also engaged in on-site dialogues, where inspectors provided guidance on correcting identified deficiencies and emphasized preventive measures to avoid workplace accidents and occupational hazards.

In Ormoc, partner agencies also conducted information sessions on workers’ social protection and regulatory compliance. The SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG Fund briefed workers on benefits and coverage, while the BFP and Office of the Building Official discussed fire safety standards and construction regulations. Workers were likewise given the opportunity to raise concerns regarding their benefits and entitlements.

DOLE-8 said the continuing inspections reflect its commitment to uphold workers’ rights, promote safe working conditions, and strengthen cooperation among government agencies and employers in ensuring compliance with labor and safety standards.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Education (DepEd) Tacloban City Schools Division has expanded its assistance and psychosocial intervention efforts for families and individuals affected by the June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School (SJNHS), combining financial aid with structured mental health support as the community begins the long recovery process.

DepEd officials led by Schools Division Superintendent Sherlita Palma visited the wakes of the victims on Wednesday, June 24, to extend condolences and personally meet grieving families.

During the visit, the officials turned over financial assistance to the bereaved families of the victims. The support was sourced from voluntary contributions of teaching and non-teaching personnel across the division and was provided to the Fabian, Separa, and Dazo families to help ease immediate expenses following the tragedy.

The assistance follows the fatal shooting incident inside the school campus on June 22 that left several students dead and others injured, prompting widespread grief across the education sector and the community.

In response, DepEd Tacloban issued Division Memorandum No. 404, s. 2026, expressing deep sorrow over the incident and outlining the agency’s commitment to provide sustained support to affected learners, personnel, and families.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

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)