Students reminded: Don’t flaunt your cell phones

If you can’t avoid bringing cellphones to schools, then don’t flaunt them and tempt snatchers.

This was the reminder of Southern Police District director Chief Superintendent Jose Gutierrez Jr., to students who are to start classes on Monday.

"Students should avoid bringing cellphones, especially those in the elementary level. But if they can’t avoid it, then I would advice them not to flaunt their cellphones," Gutierrez said in a phone interview.

Cellphone snatching is rampant in the metropolis and Gutierrez have cited incidents that resulted in the death of the victims.

According to Gutierrez, in Pasay early this year, a high school student was shot dead when he tried to fight off a snatcher who took his cellphone. The suspect remains at large.

In Taguig, on the other hand, Gutierrez said the alleged leader of a group of snatchers had been arrested in Taguig.

The suspect was said to be a "hardcore snatcher who does not hesitate to shoot or stab his victims when they resist," Gutierrez said.

Security for schools in Southern Metro Manila is already in place in time for the opening of classes, Gutierrez added.

He also said the Southern Police District would be closely coordinating with barangay tanods and the schools’ security guards. There are also checkpoints and police patrols in selected schools.