TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — Fear continues to grip schools across Leyte and Samar after multiple threats of violence from students were reported, prompting the Department of Education and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to launch investigations.
Salustiano Jimenez, DepEd Region 8 director, in a statement, reported receiving reports of threatening messages and social media posts circulating among junior and senior high school students in several municipalities. The posts allegedly mentioned violence inside campuses.
“No threat is too small to ignore, especially after what happened in Tacloban,” Jimenez said.
In an interview yesterday, Northern Samar schools division superintendent Gaudencio Aljibe said police have already traced the identity of a Grade 11 student from Allen National High School who posted on social media: “Tapos na ang shooting sa Tacloban, so Allen naman (The shooting in Tacloban is over. So, Allen next).”
“Of course, with the recent incident, parents and some students panicked,” Aljibe said.
He added the police immediately contacted the school principal and the student’s parents to resolve the matter. Security measures have been implemented at Allen National High School with the help of barangay officials, as classes resume today.
The PNP in Leyte and Samar Provincial Police Offices have begun joint probes with school administrators. Authorities are identifying other alleged students behind the posts, checking motives and assessing if any real danger exists.
Col. Celerino Sacro, Leyte PNP provincial director has also confirmed two more reported threats against Palo National High School sent through Facebook and Messenger.
The threats came less than a week after the San Jose National High School shooting in Tacloban City that left three students dead and many others injured on June 22.
“Our students are afraid. Our teachers are watchful. But we will not let fear run our schools,” Aljibe said.
Jimenez urged students to speak up and not to post threats. He reminded parents and local governments that school safety is a shared responsibility.
Education Undersecretary Malcolm Garma said only one student injured in the shooting at San Jose National High School remains confined at the intensive care unit of a hospital.
Abra lawmaker JB Bernos, meanwhile, has called for heightened police visibility and tighter security measures at schools in the province.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. directed all police regional offices and local police stations to establish regular coordination with DepEd and the Commission on Higher Education on student safety. — Evelyn Macairan, Artemio Dumlao, Neil Jayson Servallos, Rainier Allan Ronda