Angara: Education faces emergency amid school violence

MANILA, Philippines — The country is facing “an emergency” amid the increase in violence in schools following the shooting incident in Tacloban and stabbing in Las Piñas City, Education Secretary Sonny Angara yesterday said.

In an interview with The STAR’s Truth On The Line, Angara acknowledged that aside from the learning crisis, the Department of Education (DepEd) is facing another crisis brought by violence in schools.

“I think there are definitely aspects of our education system that need to be rescued in the ER. It’s an emergency. That’s why the Marcos administration prioritized this. Definitely, we had our first shooting in Tacloban a few weeks ago. It’s a game changer. This is the first time in the Philippines and now we’re conducting active shooter drills,” he said.

Three students were killed, while more than 20 others were wounded after two minors aged 15 and 14 entered two classrooms and opened fire at 40 to 50 of their classmates at the San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, Leyte on June 22.
Most recently, police said the stabbing – in which a 13-year-old Grade 9 student was killed by his 14-year-old classmate – in Las Piñas National High School on Friday was triggered by an argument over change.

“But I think it’s just reactive. We must also be preventive in our scope. We address the deeper, more complex problems. Usually there are family issues, social media issues, issues in handling the school community, bullying, family problems…  It’s a very complex phenomenon, school violence, but I think what our parents want is a safer environment,” Angara added.

He said school authorities should also look for red flags or risk factors to prevent violence in schools.

“If we see a child’s behavior is changing – not engaging, absences, getting into arguments with classmates – maybe there’s an aspect that our educators and non-teaching staff must be better at spotting some of these warning signs so it doesn’t escalate to a point where it will become violence. Because adolescence is a very turbulent period for many individuals,” Angara noted.

He said bullying and social media contribute to the violence among learners.

“We should treat them not just as students, but also as members of a larger family or community and have a more caring attitude,” Angara said.

He said efforts are being made to improve security in schools.

“We are also strict on security aspects, dealing with security, like having better security protocols, having CCTVs, having metal detectors, fixing the fences and coordinating with other government agencies. So, when it comes to peace and order, of course you’re talking about the Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of the Interior and Local Government and local barangay officials. Coordination is important,” Angara added.

He said the DepEd and concerned authorities are also monitoring the nihilistic violent extremist groups, which are on the lookout for disillusioned, depressed, angry youth.

“The aim is to recruit them and to do violent acts. So, we need to monitor this. The PNP experts, DICT (Department of Information and Communications Technology) and DOJ (Department of Justice) already explained this. These are networks which have worked for many years dealing with things like sexual harassment, trafficking, etc. So now, these networks are expanding and targeting the youth for violence, terrorism, things like that,” Angara said.

At the same time, he backed a proposal to limit the exposure of minors to social media.

He noted that the use of cellphones inside classrooms is prohibited in all schools nationwide. “If ever, the cellphones can only be used during recess, dismissal, but as long as they’re on school time or class time, they cannot use a cellphone,” he said.

Angara said DepEd will tap the assistance of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to ensure that parents of 4Ps beneficiaries monitor their children.
“I talked to (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian and he said they’re trying to inculcate it in the 4Ps program. Parents should be good examples since they are receiving assistance. Part of their responsibility is to be good parents,” he said.

On the other hand, Angara said DepEd needs at least P30 billion to P40 billion to fully implement Republic Act 12080 or the Mental Health and Wellness Act and hire 45,000 counselors and 45,000 counselor associates.

“We have money, but the truth is you need to create those positions. Those positions don’t create themselves,” he said, noting DepEd’s budget exceeded P1 trillion for the first time.

Knife bought online

The fan knife or balisong used by a Grade 9 student of Las Piñas National High School to kill his classmate was bought online, according to the city’s acting police chief.

Col. Fermin Armendarez III told True FM yesterday that police could not extract further information from the 14-year-old suspect because “he’s not yet stable.”

“In the future, the WCPD (Women and Children Protection Desk) can interview him so we can get complete details as to how he acquired the balisong,” Armendarez said.

The suspect stabbed his 13-year-old classmate in the chest on July 31 at the school after failing to receive P10 in change from the victim, who bought water for him during recess.

“We will talk with the school administrators to conduct an appropriate administrative investigation to maybe determine the lapses committed by the security guard and to recommend additional preventive measures,” Armendarez said.

The suspect is now in the custody of the city’s Bahay Pag-asa.

Ban sought

Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., PNP chief, yesterday said the police may recommend banning “excessively violent” television programs and restricting violent content on social media platforms as part of efforts to address the rising incidents of violence involving minors.

Nartatez said recent attacks in schools should not be viewed as isolated incidents, stressing that violence among children is influenced by factors beyond the campus.

“It’s not only schools that have a problem. We have to look at where the child came from and the environment he or she is exposed to, including the family, the community and social media,” he said during a press briefing at Camp Crame.

Meanwhile, face-to-face classes at Lapasan National High School (LNHS) in Cagayan de Oro City were suspended yesterday after an online post circulating on social media allegedly threatened a mass shooting at the school, prompting local officials to take precautionary measures while authorities investigate.

Ferdinand Vinco, LNHS principal, said he was informed of the alleged threat late Sunday night by Lapasan barangay captain Julito Ogsimer.

“The safety of our students, teachers and personnel is our top priority,” Vinco said, adding that the suspension was a preventive measure while police verify the credibility of the threat.

Angara yesterday commended the PNP for its swift arrest of persons behind online school threats, as he cited the importance of a unified approach involving law enforcement, local governments, parents, schools and communities to maintain safe, orderly and uninterrupted learning environments.

Recent police operations have led to criminal proceedings across several provinces including Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Cavite against teenage transgressors. — EJ Macababbad, Mark Ernest Villeza, Gerry Lee Gorit