Kabankalan school threat sparks probe, Bacolod safety push

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Police are investigating a threat against another upland public high school and its teacher-in-charge in Barangay Magballo, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, over the weekend.

Police Lt. Nolly Gudaca, deputy chief of the Kabankalan City Police Station, said an unidentified person using a dummy social media account posted a threat on Saturday to behead the 30-year-old teacher-in-charge.

Aside from specifically targeting the teacher, the suspect also threatened to cause a disturbance at the school and allegedly place an explosive device on campus.

During a paneling operation Monday, Gudaca said no suspicious items were recovered or seen inside the school, and classes resumed normally.

He added that the suspect deactivated the social media account hours after the post circulated.

Police have coordinated with the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit to track and identify the person behind the online threat.

Gudaca said the teacher had been assigned to the school for only two weeks and had no idea who might be targeting him.

Following the incident, police intensified the presence of force multipliers in the area to help law enforcers maintain peace and order at the school.

The incident followed a false bomb threat at a neighboring upland public high school in Barangay Bantayan last week.

In total, four school-related threats have been reported in Kabankalan City.

“Any threat is a serious concern. We cannot just neglect it,” Gudaca said.

Meanwhile, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod City approved two resolutions authored by Councilor Caesar Distrito to strengthen school-based mental health, counseling, and anti-bullying programs and to express the city’s sympathy and solidarity with the victims and the Ateneo de Zamboanga University community following the Aug. 18 shooting.

Ateneo de Zamboanga University confirmed that two people died in the Aug. 18 shooting at its Junior High School campus, an incident that prompted renewed concerns over safety and student well-being in educational institutions.

The first resolution called on the Department of Education Schools Division of Bacolod, Commission on Higher Education, City Health Office, Department of Social Services and Development, and all public and private educational institutions to strengthen school-based mental health programs, guidance and counseling services, anti-bullying mechanisms, and early-intervention and referral systems for students who need psychosocial support.

Distrito said the measure recognizes that school safety goes beyond physical security and must also include students’ mental and emotional well-being.

“Keeping our schools safe is not only about gates, security personnel, CCTV cameras, or keeping weapons out of our campuses. We must also make sure that our students have someone to turn to when they are struggling, being bullied, experiencing emotional difficulties, or simply need help,” Distrito said, stressing that early intervention and proper support can make a significant difference in a young person’s life.

Distrito stressed that these efforts should be implemented in a manner that encourages students to seek help without fear of judgment or stigma.

The resolution is anchored on Republic Act 11036, or the Mental Health Act; Republic Act 10627, or the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013; and Bacolod City Ordinance No. 08-15-721, the city’s anti-bullying ordinance.

The Mental Health Act calls for the integration of mental health into the educational system, while the Anti-Bullying Act requires elementary and secondary schools to adopt policies to prevent and address bullying.

The resolution encourages schools to strengthen mechanisms for identifying students who may need assistance, provide timely guidance and counseling, ensure appropriate professional referrals, and effectively implement anti-bullying policies and reporting mechanisms.

In his second resolution, Distrito stated that an act of violence inside a school resonates deeply with parents, educators, students, and communities throughout the country because schools should always represent safety, learning, friendship, and hope.

“Although we are separated by distance, we share in their grief and stand with them as they begin the difficult process of healing and recovery,” Distrito said.

He said the tragedy should also serve as a reminder to communities throughout the country of their shared responsibility to protect young people and ensure that educational institutions remain safe and supportive spaces.