The Department of Education (DepEd) is implementing active shooter drills in schools nationwide, Secretary Sonny Angara announced on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. The drills, which will teach students and teachers how to respond during a campus shooting, will begin on Friday, July 10.
Triggered by Tacloban school shooting
The decision comes after a shooting incident at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City that killed three students and injured 20 others. Two suspects, both Grade 9 students from the same school, were arrested.
“We are adjusting because this is the first school shooting. It means students were the shooters,” Angara said. “We are already doing active shooter drills. We will launch on Friday the shooting drills to show what needs to be done. If someone shoots in school, we all have a protocol automatically.”
Coordination with PNP
Aside from preparing schools for shooting situations, the education chief said DepEd will seek assistance from the Philippine National Police (PNP) to address the increasing bomb threats received by schools. Angara stressed that schools must coordinate with police, especially PNP Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams, to inspect campuses whenever a bomb threat is reported.
