DILG: Up to mayors to create own task forces vs armed violence

MANILA, Philippines — It is up to local chief executives whether to create their own task forces against armed violence in schools and public spaces following the fatal shooting incident in Tacloban City, according to Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla.

“That depends on the mayor,” he said in a press briefing in Camp Crame on Thursday.

The Tacloban City incident came at the hands of two suspects, aged 14 and 15, when they fired several gunshots inside the San Jose National High School on Monday morning, killing three students and injuring 20 more.

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Two days after the incident, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso created a task force to serve as the city’s “coordinating body for violence prevention, threat assessment, school safety, and emergency preparedness.”

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“Mayor Isko is a very proactive mayor. He’s an excellent mayor. So, he took steps,” Remulla said of the measure.

READ: Manila creates task force vs armed violence in schools, public places

“In our case, we recommended that barangay tanod (watchmen) will be actively participating now in enforcing and peacekeeping in the school perimeter,” he added.

Both minor suspects in the Tacloban case were turned over to the local social welfare office.

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The Police Regional Office Eastern Visayas (PRO 8) previously said the suspects had been bullied by schoolmates prior to the shooting incident.

At the same press briefing, Remulla announced that Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group operatives took custody of another 14-year-old student who allegedly threatened to launch a similar attack on her school in Tolosa, Leyte.

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However, according to Remulla, she was released after being turned over to the local social welfare office since she could not be charged under Republic Act No. 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act.

RA No. 9344 states that children 15 years old and younger are exempt from criminal liability and are instead subject to intervention programs.

Remulla noted that the Tolosa case may have been influenced by the Tacloban incident.

READ: Leyte student held for online school attack threat

Nonetheless, Remulla maintained, “You can feel safer because we’re on top of the situation. My only appeal is that, if you see something, report it to 911.”

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“We also recommend that, if there’s bullying in your school, report it to the principal immediately to resolve the case,” he added. /cb