Archival orders tighter school security after Tacloban school shooting

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Mayor Nestor Archival has ordered tighter security measures in schools across the city, including increased police visibility and heightened monitoring, following the deadly shooting at a public high school in Tacloban City that left three students dead and several others injured.

Archival said he met with police station commanders and directed them to strengthen security around both public and private schools as classes continue.

“Last Saturday, nag-meeting mi sa tanang station sa atong opisina ug gihangyo nako nga panghugtan nato ang security sa tanang eskwelahan, public man o private. Naa na tay gibutang nga police aron makabantay ug makapahunahuna pag-usab ang mga tawo nga adunay dautang tuyo,” Archival said in an interview on Monday, June 22.

(Last Saturday, we met with all station commanders in our office, and I asked them to tighten security in all schools, whether public or private. We have already deployed police officers so they can monitor the area and discourage people who may be planning harmful acts.)

READ: Tacloban City school shooting: 3 killed, 7 wounded, 2 suspects caught

The mayor said the city government and the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) would continue prioritizing school security amid concerns raised by the shooting incident in Tacloban.

“Rest assured, together with the city police, atong tagaan ug importansya ang school security ug ipadayon nato kini sa tibuok siyudad,” he said.

(Rest assured, together with the city police, we will prioritize school security and continue implementing these measures across the city.)

Response to Tacloban shooting

Archival issued the directive hours after authorities in Tacloban City confirmed a deadly shooting inside San Jose National High School.

Police said two Grade 9 students allegedly opened fire inside a classroom at around 9 a.m. on Monday using a Glock 9mm pistol and a .38 caliber revolver.

The attack killed three students and wounded several others.

Investigators cited alleged long-term bullying as a possible motive behind the shooting.

The incident prompted national concern over school safety and security, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordering a thorough investigation.

The Department of Education also classified the incident as a high-alert situation and has begun providing psychosocial interventions and other support services for affected students and school personnel.

READ: Tacloban City school shooting: Bullying-related grudge eyed as motive

Increased police visibility

Archival said he wants police officers to maintain a stronger and more visible presence around schools to deter potential threats.

“Mas maayo unta pataason pa ang presence sa police,” he said. (It would be better if we further increase police presence.)

The mayor added that the city government would also focus on strengthening emergency communication systems to ensure authorities can respond quickly to incidents.

“Mao na akong hangyo nga atong tagaan ug focus ang emergency lines. Ang five-minute response time ato nang gi-activate gyud,” Archival said. (That is why I am asking that we focus on our emergency lines. We have fully activated the five-minute response time.)

READ: PNP chief orders ‘all-out’ probe into Tacloban City school shooting

Five-minute response

The mayor’s statement aligns with the CCPO’s ongoing implementation of the Philippine National Police’s five-minute response time policy.

Earlier, Police Lieutenant Colonel Maria Theresa Macatangay, CCPO deputy director for operations, said police officers in Cebu City have consistently responded to reported incidents within the prescribed period and, in many cases, in less than three minutes.

Macatangay, however, emphasized that a rapid response depends heavily on timely reporting by the public.

“If a crime has happened in front of you and no one reported that to the authorities, of course, no one will respond to that particular incident,” she said during a recent media forum.

She urged residents to immediately report emergencies and suspicious activities so police units can respond without delay.

READ: Tacloban school shooting: Teachers, students help stop suspect

Preventing school shootings

While authorities have not identified any specific threat to schools in Cebu City, Archival said the city government will not wait for an incident before taking preventive action.

The mayor said visible police deployment, active emergency hotlines, and close coordination between schools and law enforcement remain key components of the city’s strategy to keep students, teachers, and school personnel safe.

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