Tacloban shooting: Western Visayas steps up anti-bullying push

ILOILO CITY — The Department of Education (DepEd) Region 6 (Western Visayas) has issued an urgent directive to all Schools Division superintendents to heighten campus security measures and strictly enforce anti-bullying campaigns.

The directive follows a deadly shooting on Monday morning at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City. According to the latest police reports, two minor suspects, aged 14 and 15, opened fire on the campus, resulting in the deaths of three teenage students and leaving 20 others injured.

READ: Number of wounded due to Tacloban school shooting now at 20

Article continues after this advertisement

Police immediately apprehended both suspects and recovered a Glock 9mm semi-automatic pistol and a .38 caliber revolver from the scene. While investigations are ongoing, authorities have indicated that the deadly attack may have stemmed from a personal grudge rooted in severe school bullying.

In a phone interview on Tuesday, DepEd Region 6 Information Officer Hernani Escullar Jr. expressed the regional office’s deep sorrow over the tragedy.

“First and foremost, our Regional Director is deeply saddened by what happened to our learners there, and we understand the trauma they experienced,” Escullar said. “Immediately yesterday, the Regional Director issued guidance through our official communication channels reiterating the need to strengthen security measures in our schools.”

Escullar detailed that schools are instructed to conduct bag checks for all learners, teachers, and personnel. However, he emphasized that privacy must be strictly upheld during these inspections.

“Whoever owns the bag must be the one to hold it, open it, and present it to the personnel conducting the check,” he explained.

Article continues after this advertisement

To further deter untoward incidents, DepEd 6 is mandating the visible presence of local law enforcement. Superintendents have been reminded to ensure that police officers or barangay tanods (village watchmen) are visible within school perimeters. School personnel are also authorized to conduct routine checks around the campus vicinity.

Furthermore, school heads have been encouraged to actively coordinate with local government leaders, stakeholders, and partners to secure funding for the procurement of metal detectors as well as the installation of additional closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at school entrances.

Article continues after this advertisement

Addressing the alleged motive behind the Tacloban shooting, Escullar stressed the necessity of a robust anti-bullying campaign.

READ: Tacloban City school shooting suspects may have been bullied

“Our school heads must be advocates against bullying. In DepEd, there is absolutely no place for bullying in our schools,” Escullar stated, encouraging school leaders to conduct anti-bullying campaigns to remind learners.

Schools have been tasked to strengthen their Learner Rights and Protection Office (LRPO), designated focal persons, and guidance counselors. This ensures that students who experience bullying have a safe, competent go-to person to report incidents to and receive necessary assistance.

Escullar also called on parents to remain highly vigilant regarding their children’s behavior. “If parents notice a sudden change in their child’s attitude—for example, a once lively and jolly student suddenly withdrawing, or a former achiever experiencing a drastic drop in grades—they should suspect the possibility of bullying,” he warned.

Parents are urged to seek immediate help from the school’s LRPO or guidance counselors to provide their child with psycho-social support. Severe cases can be directly referred to city or municipal social welfare officers to prevent victims from dropping out of school.

Escullar noted that interventions are not limited to victims; perpetrators of bullying will also undergo psycho-social support and interventions to correct their behavior and prevent a recurrence.

While official data is still being gathered, Escullar noted a drastic drop in bullying cases in Panay and Guimaras. Although he acknowledged that bullying cannot be completely eradicated, the presence of active LRPOs and guidance counselors remains crucial for timely intervention.

“We cannot ascertain that a similar incident won’t happen here, which is why prevention is better than cure,” Escullar explained. He added that even before the Tacloban incident, DepEd had maintained strict policies to ensure child safety.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

Escullar reiterated the region’s strict adherence to the DepEd “Safe Zone Policy,” which absolutely prohibits firearms, sharp objects, and deadly weapons inside school premises to prevent harm to learners./coa