Senator questions whether school shootings designed to destabilize government

MANILA — Senator Francis Pangilinan has suggested that the recent school shootings plaguing the country could be part of a broader campaign to destabilize the government and erode public trust in state institutions. The lawmaker did not rule out the possibility that such violent incidents might be orchestrated to "make the government look weak" and instill widespread fear among the population.

Pangilinan raised the concerns during the Senate's scrutiny of the Department of Justice's proposed budget allocation of P46.44 billion for 2027 on Thursday. His remarks came as the nation grapples with a troubling series of shooting incidents in educational institutions.

The senator's statements reflect growing alarm in Congress about the pattern of violence affecting schools and the potential security implications facing the country. Lawmakers are increasingly examining whether such incidents represent isolated criminal acts or part of a coordinated effort to undermine government credibility and public order.

The comments underscore broader security concerns facing Philippine educational institutions and have prompted renewed calls for comprehensive reviews of safety protocols and threat assessment mechanisms across the school system.