Cops eye “Run, Duck, Hide” response to school shooting

CEBU, Philippines — Cops on Cebu Island have proposed the adoption of the “Run, Duck, Hide” active shooter response protocol in schools to strengthen campus security and improve emergency preparedness.

Police Major Marvin Fegarido, chief of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Police Community Relations Unit, said the proposed protocol prioritizes immediate evacuation whenever a safe escape route is available.

If evacuation is not possible, individuals are advised to duck, take cover, or hide to minimize their exposure to danger.

Fighting back, Fegarido added, should only be considered as a last resort when lives are in imminent danger, noting that the guidelines under the “fight” component are still being finalized.

For provincial schools, Police Lieutenant Colonel Jose Rovic Villarin, deputy provincial director for operations of the Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO), said the proposed protocol also includes other systems.

According to him, it comes with recommendations to lock classroom and office doors, switch off lights, keep occupants quiet, and install push-to-open doors to allow faster evacuation while enabling rooms to be secured during active threats.

Meanwhile, the Mabolo Police Station in Cebu City also reminded the public that making bomb threats or issuing death threats through phone calls, text messages, social media, emails, or other forms of communication is a criminal offense punishable under the law.

Police said such acts create unnecessary panic, disrupt public order, and divert law enforcement resources from responding to actual emergencies.

The station also urged parents and guardians to educate young people on the responsible use of social media and encouraged the public to immediately report suspicious activities and credible threats.

The proposed protocol comes as the Department of Education (DepEd) announced it will roll out active shooter drills in schools beginning Friday, July 10.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the drills aim to prepare students and teachers on how to respond during an armed attack on campus following the shooting incident at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, where three students were killed and 20 others were injured. Two Grade 9 students were identified as the suspects.

Angara also said DepEd will coordinate with the Philippine National Police, particularly its Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams, in responding to bomb threats reported in schools.

He added that campuses should undergo security assessments and clearing operations before classes resume, stressing that classes should not be automatically suspended unless authorities determine that a credible threat exists. — /IHM (FREEMAN)