Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Tuesday underscored the need for updated safety protocols and increased police visibility in public schools following consecutive reports of violence, including a shooting that killed three at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City.
Angara visits Tacloban school after shooting
During his visit to San Jose National High School, Angara met with local government officials, police authorities, and school personnel. He expressed concern over three separate incidents of in-campus violence in Tacloban City, General Trias City, and Cavite City involving children in conflict with the law.
“It’s not just a peace and order problem. We see the need to manage our youth because they are exposed to a lot of violence online,” Angara said in an ambush interview. He also warned against potential copycat killings, citing trends in the United States.
Updated protocol for active shooter scenarios
Angara said updated safety guidelines are needed to “minimize loss and deaths” due to school violence. “I think what we have now is to identify the protocol, which we never had before, the protocol when there’s an active shooter. It’s something we never thought was applicable, but there’s that kind of protocol, we just have to update it,” he explained.
Increased police visibility urged
The DepEd chief also called for heightened police visibility, thanking PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. for mentioning it. Teachers have noted that police presence serves as an effective deterrent to school-related violence.
Teachers urged to monitor student behavior
Angara urged public school teachers to be more attentive to learners’ behaviors and situations. “My message to our teachers and principals is we are really like second parents here. We must check on the children if there are glitches, problems, or something irregular in their behavior,” he said.
Details of recent incidents
According to DepEd, three died in the shooting at San Jose National High School, while 20 others were injured. A Grade 11 learner was reportedly stabbed by a schoolmate in Cavite City on June 19, and seven others were attacked by a knife-wielding schoolmate in General Trias City on June 16.
CEAP calls for values development
The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) urged government agencies to prioritize character development and values of students. In a statement, the group asked DepEd and the Commission on Higher Education to focus on holistic development, not just academic achievement and workforce readiness. “These recent events further remind us that education reform must continue to uphold a holistic view of the learner — one that advances academic achievement and workforce readiness while also nurturing character, values, emotional well-being, and social responsibility,” it said. CEAP expressed alarm over the violent incidents, calling them “a harrowing escalation from bullying and peer conflicts to outright killings.”
