MANILA – Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro on Wednesday clarified that she did not blame teachers for the recent school shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University, saying her earlier remarks were intended to highlight educators’ role in guiding young people.

Castro issued the clarification after the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) criticized her remarks as “reckless and insulting,” while ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio called on her to retract her statements and apologize to teachers.

“Unang-una ay wala po tayong sinisisi na mga guro; ito ay pagpapaalala sa ating mga kagalang-galang na mga guro kung ano po ang kanilang malaking role bilang tagahubog ng magandang kaugalian lalung-lalo na sa mga kabataan,” Castro said during a Palace briefing.

She said teachers, whom she described as “second parents,” have an important role in helping young people develop proper values alongside their families.

“Ang mga guro iginagalang po natin yan, malamang nagkaroon lamang po ng misinterpretation dahil yung nagpalabas ng opinyon ay mali agad at sinabi na sinisisi natin ang mga teachers,” she said.

Castro said her earlier reference to teachers was based on specific incidents that had been investigated or reported, including a case in Davao City involving students who allegedly heckled President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and another involving a teacher who allegedly posted a video teaching students insulting words directed at the President.

She said the latter case is currently the subject of an administrative proceeding and that the teacher had admitted making the video. The incident also prompted the Department of Education to issue a memorandum reminding teachers to uphold professionalism.

“Hindi po kayo sinisisi. Ito ay pagpapaalala,” Castro said.

She also cited her personal ties to the teaching profession, saying her mother was a public school teacher who remained in the profession until her death.

“Hindi ko po kailanman hindi bibigyang galang ang mga guro dahil ang aking ina, hindi pa po ako pinapanganak, ay isang public school teacher,” she said.

Castro acknowledged that some teachers may have been offended by her remarks but maintained that she did not hold educators responsible for the violence.

“Naiintindihan ko po kung saan nanggagaling ang ating mga guro. Wala po tayong sinabi na sila ang dapat sisihin,” she said.

Tinio demands apology

Tinio, meanwhile, urged Castro to publicly retract her remarks and apologize to teachers, calling her comments “unwarranted, gratuitous, and illogical.”

“Dapat bawiin ni Usec. Claire Castro at humingi siya ng paumanhin sa lahat ng guro,” Tinio said.

He argued that teachers should not be made scapegoats for school violence, which he said involves broader systemic issues such as inadequate school funding, limited access to mental health services and lax gun control.

“The alarming rise in such incidents is a complex issue involving insufficient school funding, lack of access to mental health services, and lax gun control, for which teachers must not be used as scapegoats,” Tinio said.

The ACT earlier accused the Palace official of attempting to shift blame toward teachers following the Ateneo de Zamboanga University shooting, in which a Grade 9 student allegedly used two firearms to kill a fellow student before taking his own life. Two other people were reportedly injured.

The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition likewise said incidents of school violence cannot be attributed solely to teachers, pointing to factors including the school environment, access to mental health and psychosocial services, family circumstances, access to weapons and broader social conditions.

PCO urges responsible reporting

Separately, PCO Secretary Dave Gomez urged media organizations to exercise extreme caution when reporting tragedies involving minors.

Gomez said state media should observe the highest level of care, while private media organizations are likewise encouraged to practice restraint and responsibility.

He said coverage should protect the dignity, safety and privacy of minors, avoid causing additional harm to bereaved families, refrain from interfering with investigations and avoid details that could potentially encourage copycat violence.