EDITORIAL — Campus violence demands urgent action

Another tragedy struck Tuesday at a private school in Zamboanga City, where a shooting claimed the lives of four students and deepened fears across the country. The incident follows a string of campus threats in Cebu and echoes a gruesome school attack in Thailand.

What we are now seeing is a disturbing trend. Violence is no longer confined to foreign headlines but is now creeping into Philippine campuses.

For decades, the Philippines considered school shootings rare, unlike in Western countries where such incidents have become grimly familiar. That sense of safety is now eroding.

The Zamboanga City attack, coupled with repeated bomb scares and threats in Cebu, signals a dangerous shift that authorities can no longer dismiss as isolated.

The government, law enforcement, and education officials must act decisively. Security measures at school gates are not enough; the threat now extends into digital spaces where extremism and violent influence spread unchecked.

A comprehensive response is needed that include stronger campus security, rapid coordination among agencies, and aggressive promotion of digital literacy to shield students from online grooming and radicalization.

Parents, educators, and communities must also unite to confront this menace. Campus violence is not just a law enforcement issue; it is a societal crisis that demands vigilance, cooperation, and resilience.

The Philippines cannot afford complacency. What was once rare is becoming real. The time to stop campus violence is now.