PNP to deploy more officers in schools amid incidents of violence

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 30) —- The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said the public can expect more officers to be deployed in the vicinity of schools after recent cases of violence inside campuses.

“Mas dodoblehin natin yung mga pulis na bumibisita sa mga eskwelahan. Kung kinakailangan, yung ating mga pulis – kung sapat ang kanilang bilang – ay tumulong po sa ating mga security guard na mag-inspeksyon nung mga bag ng ating mga estudyante,” PNP chief public information officer Redrico Maranan said in a media briefing.

[Translation: We will double the number of police officers visiting schools. If needed and if there are enough personnel, our officers can help security guards in inspecting the bags of students.]

Last Thursday, a student in Bulacan fatally shot himself by accident using a gun owned by his father who is a policeman. The 12-year-old brought the firearm to school, where the incident occurred.

A few days prior, a 13-year-old student at Culiat High School in Quezon City also died after being stabbed by a schoolmate inside their campus.

Maranan said the increased police deployment will be implemented immediately, and priority areas would be schools with large numbers of students.

He also clarified this will be done in coordination with school authorities.

“Alam naman natin na ang eskwelahan po ay peace zone,” he said. “May mga policy po yung mga eskwelahan na bawal doon ang may mga baril, but we have to understand, yung ating pong kapulisan, part ng uniform namin ay yung pagdadala ng service firearms.”

[Translation: We know that schools are a peace zone. They prohibit the entry of people with firearms, but we have to understand that service firearms are part of our police officers’ uniform.]

According to Maranan, the PNP is already looking into the criminal and administrative liability of the policeman in Bulacan whose child used his gun.

The Quezon City government also earlier said Mayor Joy Belmonte has ordered the implementation of stricter security measures in all of the city's public learning institutions following the stabbing incident.