Kalayaan Atin Ito - Sulu chapter

18/08/2026

ADZU Tragedy

I’ve been trying to process the tragic shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga all day, and honestly, halo-halong lungkot, pagod, at galit 'yung nararamdaman ko. A young student’s life was cut short, and another minor committed this act before taking his own—it is just too heavy to carry. 💔

I watched the Malacañang press briefing earlier where PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro read the President's statement. While she mentioned shared responsibility, she also made a comment pointing fingers at teachers who supposedly show "bad examples" to students. Honestly, seeing how people on the front lines face these fears every day, that line was deeply frustrating and unfair.

Deflecting institutional accountability onto teachers completely misses the point. Educators are already doing everything they can to keep classrooms safe. This tragedy is not a failure of teacher discipline; it is a massive systemic breakdown. When a minor can easily access high-powered fi****ms at home, livestream an entire act of violence, and feel so deeply isolated that they resort to this—hindi pwedeng isisi lang basta-basta sa mga g**o.

We cannot treat this as just another isolated crime or a mere disciplinary issue. There is an acute, deep-seated youth mental health crisis that our current systems are completely failing to address. Stricter campus security checkpoints are necessary, pero hindi sapat 'yun. We need to look closer at the silent cries for help, extreme isolation, and sudden behavioral changes in kids before things turn fatal.

Moving on won't be easy, dahil mahabang proseso ng healing ang kailangan ng buong Zamboanga community. The surviving students, the faculty, and the families deserve immediate psychological first aid and long-term mental health support to process this immense trauma. Let’s look out for each other, demand absolute gun accountability from gun owners, and force our institutions to build real support systems bago pa maging huli ang lahat. Hugs and prayers to everyone!

28/07/2026

Teacher's POV

Bilang isang g**o, labis akong nalulungkot at nababahala sa balitang isang g**o ang pinagtulungang saktan ng mga estudyante. Walang hindi pagkakaunawaan ang dapat humantong sa pananakit. Ang paaralan ay lugar ng pagkatuto, paggalang, at disiplina.

Naniniwala ako na dapat ding pag-isipang mabuti ng ating mga mambabatas ang epekto ng mga patakaran tungkol sa pagdidisiplina sa loob ng paaralan. Ang mga batas ay dapat parehong nagpoprotekta sa karapatan ng mga mag-aaral at nagbibigay rin ng sapat na proteksiyon at awtoridad sa mga g**o upang mapanatili ang kaayusan at kaligtasan sa loob ng silid-aralan.

Ang paggalang ay hindi dapat mawala—sa g**o man o sa mag-aaral. Kung nais nating magkaroon ng dekalidad na edukasyon, kailangan nating ibalik ang kultura ng responsibilidad, disiplina, at pagrespeto sa isa't isa.

12/06/2026

12/06/2026

PAHAYAG NG PAGKONDENA SA MALING PAGKATAWAN SA PROBINSYA NG SULU

Nais kong ipahayag ang aking matinding pagtutol at pagkondena sa kumakalat na balita at larawan kung saan ginamit ang pangalan ng Sulu sa isang politikal na demonstrasyon na may temang "Sulu PBBM Forever."

Unang-una, kwestyonable ang pagkakakilanlan ng mga indibidwal na kasama sa naturang pagkilos. Ang paggamit sa pangalan ng isang buong probinsya ay isang maling pagkatawan (misrepresentation) na nagdudulot ng maling impresyon sa publiko. Ang Sulu ay may sariling kasaysayan, dignidad, at malayang pag-iisip. Hindi nararapat na ikahon ang buong rehiyon sa iisang politikal na panig para lamang magmukhang may malawak na suporta ang isang administrasyon.

Nanawagan ako sa mga organizer ng naturang aktibidad na maging tapat sa kanilang mga pagkilos at huwag gamitin ang pagkakakilanlan ng mga Tausug para sa kanilang sariling pakinabang.

-Kalayaan Atin Ito-Sulu

13/05/2026

congratulations 👏🎉

23/04/2026

OFFICIAL STATEMENT

We issue this urgent call for justice following the catastrophic law enforcement operation in Sitio Alas-as sinunuc Zamboanga city on April 23, 2026. The loss of three lives, including a 12-year-old child, is an affront to both human rights and the sacred teachings of Islam.

The Holy Quran decrees that the killing of one innocent soul is as if one has killed all of mankind (5:32). We categorically denounce this operation as a systemic failure. When those mandated to protect the public instead become the source of civilian tragedy, the principles of necessity and proportionality have been abandoned. A child’s life is never an acceptable cost for "public safety."

We demand absolute accountability. There must be an independent investigation by the Commission on Human Rights, the immediate suspension of all involved personnel, and a total overhaul of operational protocols to ensure no other family endures this agony.

We do not just mourn; we demand action. We will not remain silent while our children become statistics in a cycle of unchecked violence.

We grieve. We condemn. We demand justice.

-AJ

Kalayaan Atin Ito – Sulu Chapter

April 23, 2026

26/01/2026

OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON THE SINKING OF MV TRISHA KERSTIN 3

The tragic sinking of the MV Trisha Kerstin 3 in the early hours of January 26, 2026, near Baluk-Baluk Island, Basilan, is a grievous event that demands more than mere apologies. This disaster, occurring in the same treacherous waters where the MV Lady Mary Joy 3 met its end only a few years ago, underscores a deeply concerning and lethal pattern of negligence within the operations of Aleson Shipping Lines.

The recurring nature of these maritime tragedies—characterized by technical failures, water ingress, and the endangerment of hundreds of lives—points to a systemic disregard for rigorous safety protocols and vessel maintenance. It is unacceptable that the same company continues to operate under conditions that lead to such preventable loss of life and trauma for the people of Zamboanga and Sulu.

We demand the following:

Absolute Accountability: An immediate, transparent investigation by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Philippine Coast Guard into the seaworthiness of the entire Aleson fleet.

Revocation of Franchise: A formal review and potential revocation of the company’s Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC), as repeated incidents suggest a fundamental failure to uphold the "extraordinary diligence" required of common carriers.

Just Compensation: Immediate and comprehensive financial and psychosocial support for the survivors and the families of those who perished, beyond the standard insurance requirements.

History has shown that without decisive intervention, these "floating coffins" will continue to claim lives. We call upon our national leaders and maritime regulators to break this cycle of corporate indifference and ensure that no more families are forced to mourn due to maritime negligence.

-Kalayaan ATIN ITO-SULU