The public and government reactions to the Tacloban high school shooting by two students, which caused the deaths of three students and scores of injuries, are troubling. I write this primarily as a personal reflection drawn from my previous work as the women and child rights focal point at Amnesty International in the UK. I hope this reaches the attention of the authorities and civic organizations with similar advocacies on child rights.

The trauma, grief, community division, and brokenness created by the Tacloban school shooting — and similar incidents involving children and young people — are almost impossible to measure. The lives lost can never be restored. Survivors may carry physical and emotional scars for years. Families of the victims must navigate a lifetime of grief. At the same time, the families of the child offenders also face stigma, fear, guilt, and social isolation.

Entire schools and communities can become fractured by anger, suspicion, blame, and competing narratives of justice. In some cases, the damage to relationships and trust may take generations to heal.

In moments such as this, it is understandable for emotions to run high. Yet it is precisely at such times that society must be careful not to allow grief and outrage to cloud our judgment.

Red flags to avoid

Taking sides instead of seeking truth

The tendency to immediately divide people into camps — victims versus offenders, families versus institutions, community versus authorities — often deepens conflict rather than promotes healing.

Justice requires a full understanding of what happened, why it happened, and how similar tragedies can be prevented.

 Blaming parents alone

Parents play a crucial role in raising children, but it is simplistic and unfair to place the entire burden of responsibility on them.

Children are also shaped by schools, peers, social media, communities, economic conditions, and broader social influences. Blame alone does not provide solutions.

 Blaming the law without understanding it

Calls to abandon or weaken juvenile justice protections often emerge after high-profile crimes involving minors.

The challenge is not choosing between accountability and child protection. The challenge is ensuring both. Society must ask whether laws are being properly implemented and whether support systems for at-risk youth are adequately funded and accessible.

 Creating a false choice between law and justice

Many grieving families understandably seek justice for victims.

But justice is broader than punishment alone. It also includes truth, accountability, healing, prevention, and support for those harmed. A response focused solely on punishment may satisfy public anger but fail to address the root causes that produced the tragedy.

Promoting hatred against children or young people

One of the most dangerous reactions is the demonization of minors involved in crimes.

Children who commit grave offenses must be held accountable in accordance with the law. However, they remain children whose actions are often shaped by neglect, abuse, trauma, poverty, violence, or other adverse experiences.

Hatred is not a public safety strategy.

What can be done?

• Ensure meaningful reparations and support for victims

Victims and their families deserve immediate and long-term assistance, including the following: medical care, psychological counseling, educational support, financial assistance

• Legal aid

The challenge becomes more complex when offenders also come from poor and disadvantaged families. In such cases, government agencies and community support mechanisms must play a larger role in ensuring victims receive meaningful assistance.

• Expand psychosocial programs for youth and parents

Many communities lack accessible mental health and family support services. Programs should include: parenting education, family counseling, youth mentoring, anger management, conflict resolution, mental health services in schools and communities.

• Strengthen school safety and child protection systems

Schools must remain safe spaces for learning. Measures may include: early warning and intervention systems, anti-bullying mechanisms, counseling services, threat assessment protocols, stronger child protection policies, closer coordination with parents and local authorities

• Support families of child offenders

In some cases, families of child offenders become targets of harassment, threats, or retaliation. Local governments and community leaders should be prepared to provide protection and support where necessary, including temporary relocation in extreme situations.

• Promote family and community reconciliation

Where appropriate and consistent with the wishes of victims, restorative and reconciliatory initiatives may help rebuild community relationships. These efforts should never replace accountability, but they can help reduce cycles of hatred and revenge.

• Raise public awareness on juvenile justice

Many misunderstand the purpose of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act. Barangays, schools, police officers, faith-based groups, and civic organizations should help educate communities on: children’s rights, accountability mechanisms, diversion programs, child protection systems

Responsibilities of families and communities

There’s a need to create local juvenile protection and prevention councils or task forces or watch dogs. Rather than focusing only on punishment after a tragedy occurs, communities should strengthen preventive structures involving: parents, schools, barangays, social workers, police, youth leaders, faith-based and civic organizations. Their role should be to identify risks early, support vulnerable children, and intervene before problems escalate into violence.

The true measure of a society is not how it responds when everything is working well, but how it responds when tragedy strikes.

We owe justice to the victims. 

We owe support to the survivors. 

We owe accountability from those responsible. But we also owe future generations a serious commitment to prevention.

If all we do is blame, we will learn nothing.

If all we do is punish, we may repeat the cycle.

But if we seek truth, accountability, healing, and prevention together, then even in the shadow of tragedy, we may begin the difficult work of repairing what has been broken and protecting the children who remain. – Rappler.com

Edna Aquino is a longstanding human rights advocate.