Security audit of all Cebu City schools ordered after Tacloban shooting

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The local police here has launched an immediate citywide “school hardening” campaign that includes tighter access controls, expanded police deployments, security assessments, and campus patrols in response to the deadly school shooting in Tacloban City.

Police Colonel Franco Rudolf Oriol, deputy city director for administration and Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) spokesperson, announced the measures during a press conference on Tuesday, June 23, as authorities moved to prevent a similar incident from occurring in Cebu City.

The security overhaul comes a day after a shooting inside San Jose National High School in Tacloban City left three students dead and 20 others wounded or injured, making it one of the deadliest school attacks recorded in the country.

READ: Tacloban City school shooting: Latest updates

Security measures intensified

Oriol said the CCPO had ordered all police stations to strengthen security operations around both public and private schools across Cebu City.

“Kabahin sa CCPO, atong gi-intensify ang school hardening measures ug security measures sa lain-laing eskwelahan,” Oriol said.

(As part of the CCPO’s efforts, we have intensified school hardening and security measures in different schools.)

He said police officers have already been deployed to schools since the opening of classes, but the Tacloban tragedy prompted authorities to increase police visibility and monitoring further.

“Gikan pa sa pagsugod sa klase naa na tay mga kapolisan nga gi-deploy sa nagkalain-laing public ug private schools dinhi sa siyudad, pero tungod sa panghitabo mas atong i-intensify karon ang deployment,” he said.

(We have already deployed police officers to various public and private schools since classes opened, but because of this incident, we will further intensify our deployment.)

Apart from a stationary police presence, the CCPO will increase mobile patrols and motorcycle patrol operations around school zones.

READ: Tacloban school shooting: Number of wounded, injured now at 20

Security audit underway

The police also launched a comprehensive review of school security systems and campus vulnerabilities.

According to Oriol, intelligence personnel have been tasked to inspect schools and evaluate access points that can allow weapons or other dangerous items to enter campuses.

“Atong gitahasan ang intelligence personnel to conduct and review security assessment sa tanang schools, lakip na ang access control para mapugngan ang pagsulod sa mga bladed weapons ug firearms,” he said.

(We have tasked our intelligence personnel to conduct and review security assessments in all schools, including access controls, to prevent bladed weapons and firearms from entering campuses.)

READ: Tacloban City school shooting planned weeks before, say police

The review will identify schools that lack security personnel and determine whether existing security arrangements adequately cover entrances and exits.

“Nagpahigayon ta karon og security assessment aron makita asa nga mga eskwelahan adunay security ug asa ang walay security,” Oriol said.

(We are currently conducting security assessments to determine which schools have security personnel and which do not.)

He noted that some schools maintain multiple access points despite having only one guard assigned to monitor them.

“Ipa-review nato ang access kay naay mga schools nga daghang access pero usa ra ang bantay,” he said.

(We will review access controls because some schools have several entry points but only one guard.)

Based on the findings, police will recommend additional security measures to school administrators, including stronger coordination with barangay tanods and security personnel.

Bag inspections eyed

As part of tighter access controls, Oriol said schools might need to strengthen inspections of bags and personal belongings brought onto campuses.

“Yes, mao gyud na atong tumong nga pahugtan ang access control,” he said when asked whether bag inspections should form part of the security measures.

(Yes, that is precisely our objective—to tighten access control.)

He said authorities want to prevent students or outsiders from bringing firearms, bladed weapons, glass bottles, and other potentially dangerous items into schools.

“Pahugtan nato ang access sa students sa bladed weapons, firearms, even glass bottles. Apil na sa mga higpitan aron dili makalusot sa schools,” Oriol said.

(We will tighten controls against bladed weapons, firearms, and even glass bottles. These are among the items we want to prevent from entering schools.)

The police official clarified that security personnel and police officers assigned to schools might conduct inspections, while private schools with their own security teams might adopt enhanced screening measures based on police recommendations.

Beyond physical security, the CCPO plans to strengthen engagement with students, parents, and school officials.

Oriol said station commanders will conduct dialogues and school-based community engagements to raise awareness about safety concerns and identify potential threats early.

“Giinvolve nato ang community relations pinaagi sa school-based nga pakigsandurot diin ang station commanders magpahigayon og dialogue sa students, parents, ug school authorities,” he said.

(We have involved our community relations units through school-based engagements where station commanders will hold dialogues with students, parents, and school authorities.)

The initiative aims to build stronger partnerships between schools and law enforcement while promoting early intervention against violence and other security threats.

Five-minute response

Oriol also assured the public that the CCPO remained ready to respond quickly to emergencies.

“Sa response time sa CCPO, naa ra ta sa three to five minutes. Every day naa tay simulation exercises ug so far napamatud-an nato nga makaresponde dayon ta,” he said.

(As for the CCPO’s response time, we remain within three to five minutes. We conduct simulation exercises every day, and so far we have proven that we can respond immediately.)

The security measures reinforce an earlier directive from Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival, who ordered tighter security in all public and private schools following the Tacloban shooting.

Archival records earlier instructed police commanders to increase police visibility around campuses and strengthen emergency response mechanisms to deter potential threats.

While authorities have not identified any specific threat against schools in Cebu City, the CCPO said it would continue implementing enhanced security measures to ensure the safety of students, teachers, and school personnel amid heightened concerns over school violence following the Tacloban tragedy.

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