Bacolod student hurt in school stabbing

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD City — A 12-year-old Grade 7 student is under the custody of a barangay social worker for assessment after he allegedly stabbed and injured his 14-year-old Grade 8 schoolmate near their school in Barangay Sum-ag here Monday.

Police Capt. Greeky Cayao, head of Police Station 9, said that despite not knowing each other, a misunderstanding ensued between the victim and the suspect when they looked at each other after class dismissal, leading to a commotion.

The victim reportedly had companions when he figured in a fistfight with the suspect.

Cayao said the suspect alleged that he was able to grab a pointed object from the ground but said he had no intention of harming the victim.

The victim sustained stab wounds in the left arm and body and a laceration on his hand, according to Cayao.

He is recuperating in a hospital.

Police are trying to locate the weapon allegedly used in the incident, as the suspect forgot where he threw it.

Cayao said they have coordinated with the school regarding the status and records of the students involved.

Police have also talked with the suspect’s older sibling and the victim’s parents.

The police investigation is ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and validate the information gathered.

After the June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, which killed three students and injured at least 20 others, Sum-ag National High School started conducting bag inspections on students on June 25 as part of intensified security measures to ensure the safety of learners and teaching personnel.

The measure enables teachers and staff to prevent the entry of contraband and weapons that could endanger them and the learners inside the school.

The incident came after a stabbing incident was also reported in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, involving Grade 9 and Grade 10 students last week.

On Monday morning, a reported online shooting threat involving a 14-year-old student from a different school also alarmed parents and students of Escalante National High School in Escalante City.

Mayor Greg Gasataya met with the local school board Tuesday to discuss matters related to the safety of educational institutions and students amid recent reports of school-related violence in the country.

“I hope these incidents would not be a trend to the children,” Gasataya said, as he expressed concern about the mental health of students.

Gasataya stressed the primary responsibility of parents in guiding their children at home and the significant role of teachers in attending to the needs of students in schools.

The mayor said he requested the list of all public school teachers and personnel in the city to evaluate whether their number is enough to help children address their mental health.

“The approach needs to be collective and general,” he added.

In a media interview Tuesday, Gasataya said the city government will provide walk-through metal scanners to support the existing precautionary measures of schools here.

To reinforce security measures, Gasataya said it was also suggested that school-based emergency response teams coordinate with disaster management officers and the Department of Education for proper training.

Since the opening of classes in public schools on June 8, the Bacolod City Police Office has continued deploying personnel in schools to strengthen police visibility.

Gasataya said the BCPO assured the city that these personnel will be reinforced by the upcoming batch of police officers.

Gasataya said they are also assessing other necessary security measures.

Meanwhile, the DepEd-Negros Island Region has intensified its Powering Empathy, Acceptance, and Connection Everyday campaign through simultaneous school visits and the observance of student-led anti-bullying activities during flag ceremonies.

Dr. Ramir Uytico, DepEd-NIR director, and Anthony Liobet, officer-in-charge assistant regional director, led regional chiefs and Schools Division Office leaders in attending morning rites across various schools in the region this week.

“PEACE should start in every school in NIR, emphasizing empathy, acceptance, and connection every day,” Uytico stressed, as he expects teachers and school officials to ensure that all learners recite the bully-free pledge during every flag ceremony.

The campaign, pursuant to Regional Memorandum No. 139, series of 2025, focuses on anti-bullying efforts by integrating activities that serve as a platform for students to publicly advocate for harmony, peer support, and a strict zero-tolerance policy against any form of abuse and violence.

By actively sustaining this initiative, the agency aims to curb school violence and ensure that all campuses remain nurturing, safe, and conducive learning environments for every learner.