Police probe Escalante school shooting threat

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Classes at Escalante National High School in Escalante City, Negros Occidental, shifted to Alternative Delivery Mode beginning Monday afternoon as police investigated a reported online school shooting threat involving a suspected minor student from a different school.

Screenshots of an online conversation discovered by a woman through her nephew’s gadget circulated Monday, showing a student allegedly sharing with an online playmate his plan to carry out a shooting.

There was no class suspension, but parents alarmed by the online post fetched their children from the school, according to Police Lt. Col. Florendo Fajardo, chief of the Escalante City Police Station.

In a social media post, the school’s official publication announced that teachers were directed to provide Learning Activity Sheets and other learning materials to their classes through available online communication platforms.

The shift to Alternative Delivery Mode was recommended after an emergency meeting and consultation with the Schools Division Office, police, and school administration to ensure the safety and well-being of learners and personnel pending further investigation.

Principal Jesus Tabelino reminded teachers to be mindful of learners who do not have access to mobile phones or the internet and to find alternative ways to reach and support them.

As part of the investigation, the parents of the child believed to be responsible for the online threat voluntarily executed a written waiver authorizing investigators to examine their child’s mobile phone.

The consent allows law enforcement to conduct a digital forensic examination of the device to identify the individuals involved in the chat group and determine the extent of any potential threats.

Police said the proactive step was intended to help prevent any untoward incident before it could occur.

Fajardo said the 14-year-old student and his parents were summoned by authorities, and the student alleged that he was no longer using his social media account.

Despite this, police said the investigation would continue because investigators had been authorized by the family to examine the child’s mobile phone.

“We will get to the bottom of this,” Fajardo said.

Fajardo said the City Social Welfare and Development Office had spoken with the student involved.

He added that the student had no school record of any offense.

However, Fajardo said police have yet to reach the woman who posted the matter online.

He added that police had sent her a message, but she had yet to respond.

Fajardo said the motive behind the incident remained unclear, adding that investigators still have to determine the link between Escalante National High School and the alleged shooting threat.

He said police need to validate all information and identify the student’s playmate, who is reportedly from Toboso town.

Fajardo urged the public to immediately report similar incidents to authorities so police could address them at once.

Police Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño, acting regional director of the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region, assured the public that local police were closely coordinating with school authorities and parents.

Cardiño directed all police stations across the region to maintain close coordination with educational institutions and local government partners to ensure that schools remain safe and secure environments where learners can study without fear.

“There is no room for complacency when it comes to threats affecting our schools,” he said in a statement.

The regional office appealed to parents and guardians to actively monitor their children’s online activities to safeguard them against cyberbullying, online threats, and other harmful activities in digital spaces.

The Escalante incident came a week after a shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City on June 22 left three students dead and several others injured, with police saying the suspects were minors.

Just last week, a Grade 10 student allegedly stabbed and injured his Grade 9 schoolmate outside a school in Barangay 2, San Carlos City, over a grudge that stemmed from a dispute between rival teenage groups.

The PRO-NIR encouraged the public to promptly report any information relating to threats against schools or students, saying early reporting enables authorities to take immediate and appropriate action to protect lives and maintain peace in communities.