THE DEPARTMENT of Education (DepEd) has appealed to the public and members of the media to refrain from circulating sensitive photos, videos and other materials related to the incident at Ateneo de Zamboanga University (AdZU).

In a statement, DepEd urged media organizations, vloggers, content creators and social media users to avoid posting or amplifying content showing the incident or its aftermath.

The agency said the circulation of such materials could aggravate the trauma experienced by affected families, learners, school personnel and members of the AdZU community.

DepEd also called on the public to respect the privacy and dignity of those affected and allow law enforcement authorities to conduct their investigation without interference.

The department encouraged the public to rely on verified information released through official channels and avoid spreading unconfirmed details about the incident.

“Let us choose compassion over clicks,” DepEd said, stressing that the safety, dignity and recovery of the affected school community should remain the priority.