20/08/2026
๐ช๐ถ๐ช๐ถ๐ท๐ฌ๐จ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฝ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
The Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations extends its deepest sympathies, heartfelt prayers, and unwavering solidarity to the victims, their grieving families, and the entire academic community of Ateneo de Zamboanga University. In the face of this profound tragedy, we share in your sorrow and stand firmly beside you. Together, we mourn and draw strength from our collective resolve to support one another during this dark period.
As legal processes and investigations unfold, we urge the public to exercise discernment and utmost sensitivity when sharing information. Above all, protecting the identity, privacy, and psychological well-being of the minors involvedโand ensuring the peace and dignity of their familiesโmust take precedence over sensationalism or the rush to provide real-time updates.
As law enforcement authorities and educational institutions implement necessary security measures, inspections, and searches across school campuses and communities, we must remain vigilant in upholding the basic constitutional rights and recognizing the inherent vulnerabilities of minors. Safety protocols must never compromise the dignity or fundamental protections guaranteed to our youth under the law. True security is achieved only when both safety and rights are respected.
Furthermore, we strongly appeal to everyone to refrain from spreading false, speculative, or unverified reports. Distorting facts not only inflicts further trauma on the affected families but also risks hindering the official investigations being conducted by university and government authorities. Responsible communication is crucial to both healing and achieving justice.
Physical security measures alone cannot prevent violence. We call on all learning institutions across the nation to look beyond administrative controls and barriers. Schools must urgently strengthen comprehensive student formation programs, implement robust guidance and counseling policies, and expand mental health support networks. These are essential, long-term solutions to addressing the root causes of school violence.
Finally, we must never lose faith or relent in our commitment to student formation, even amidst rising incidents of violence in our educational spaces. As schools, our fundamental constitutional mandate extends far beyond delivering academic instruction; it is our highest duty to nurture the character, moral compass, and resilience of our youth. By helping them grow into compassionate and responsible citizens, we fulfill our nationโs greatest hope.
