Police, school urge restraint over shooting threat

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD City — The Escalante City Police Station and Escalante National High School in Negros Occidental have appealed to the public to refrain from bullying, harassing, or spreading unverified information about the child allegedly involved in a reported online threat in the city on Monday.

The child is a 14-year-old high school student who was subjected to investigation after he allegedly planned to carry out a shooting at a school in the city.

The report surfaced through a viral social media post by a woman who said she learned about it through her nephew’s gadget.

While the investigation remains ongoing, the police, in a statement, emphasized that every child is entitled to protection, dignity, and due process under the law.

“Public speculation, online shaming, and sharing of the child’s identity or personal information may cause unnecessary harm and could adversely affect the child’s well-being and the integrity of the investigation,” the police said.

Police reminded the public that the objective of the investigation is not only to ensure accountability, where warranted, but also to protect all children involved and prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.

They encouraged the public to exercise responsibility in using social media by avoiding the spread of misinformation, refraining from posting offensive or harmful comments, and allowing proper authorities to complete the investigation without undue interference.

Police assured the public that a thorough and impartial investigation is being conducted to establish the facts and determine the appropriate interventions, in coordination with school authorities, parents, the local government unit, and other concerned agencies.

The school, in a statement, also appealed to the public to remain calm and practice responsible use of social media.

The viral post has reached school officials, who assured the public that the situation has been stabilized pending further investigation.

The school stressed that the safety and well-being of learners, personnel, and stakeholders remain its highest priority.

“Please refrain from sharing, reposting, or reacting to unverified information,” it said.

Classes at the school shifted to Alternative Delivery Mode beginning Monday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Police Lt. Col. Florendo Fajardo, chief of the Escalante City Police Station, said the woman who posted the online conversation between the student and her nephew had deactivated her social media account as of Monday night.

Despite this, Fajardo said he is optimistic that police can trace the other person involved, as the student’s cellphone has already been subjected to digital examination.

“It will take time,” he said, adding that authorities will have to check its digital footprint.

For now, Fajardo refused to make speculations while the investigation is ongoing.

Although the school was not specifically mentioned as the target of the alleged online threat, parents were alarmed by the social media post and fetched their children from the school on Monday.