The Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) is pushing for the creation of anti-bullying desks and the installation of dedicated alarm systems as part of measures to strengthen school security following 19 threats investigated across Cebu since July.
CPPO Director Police Col. Abubakar Mangelan Jr. made the recommendations during the Cebu Provincial Board’s regular session on September 14, where partner agencies were invited to discuss school safety and preparedness.
Mangelan said the proposed anti-bullying desks should be supported not only by police but also by barangay officials, school authorities, parent-teacher associations (PTAs), and student governments.
He said the setup would ensure that addressing bullying and related concerns would not become a one-person responsibility for the police.
Aside from anti-bullying desks, Mangelan proposed that schools install an alarm system specifically intended for shooting incidents.
The proposal forms part of the CPPO’s recommendations for schools to improve their ability to immediately alert authorities and school communities in case of a serious security threat.
19 threats across province
According to Mangelan, the CPPO investigated 19 school threat incidents from July to September, involving schools in 15 local government units.
The incidents were recorded in Argao, Bantayan, Barili, Bogo, Carcar, Carmen, Consolacion, Cordova, Danao, Liloan, Pinamungajan, San Fernando, San Remigio, and Talisay City.
Carcar, Liloan, and San Fernando each recorded two incidents, while Talisay City recorded three. The other areas recorded one incident each.
Of the 19 incidents, police identified 13 suspects and brought them to police stations for investigation. Nine of those identified suspects were minors, Mangelan said.
He said this was the reason police were unable to file charges against the nine children.
Three arrests made
Mangelan said police arrested three persons in connection with the incidents in Bantayan, Pinamungajan, and Toledo.
In Pinamungajan, police confiscated a .357 revolver during the investigation, while the Toledo incident involved a bomb joke.
For the four incidents where suspects have yet to be identified, Mangelan said the investigation remains ongoing with the assistance of the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit (RACU). He added that police were working to identify those who posted the threats on social media.
Mangelan said police also identified a pattern in several of the incidents they investigated.
‘Most of these incidents or threats that have been directed towards our schools were some of the students or the schools are about to take their exams, or paperworks submission,’ he said.
These circumstances, he said, were among the motives uncovered by police during their investigations.
Mangelan described the practice as a possible ‘modus operandi’ among some students who wanted their schools to suspend classes.
‘This is some sort which become a modus operandi for some of our students wherein the particular school not to suspend their schools – they will have the threats,’ he said.
Interventions for minors
Mangelan said minors who were identified and investigated were subjected to interventions, depending on the availability of facilities in their respective areas.
In areas with Municipal Social Welfare and Development (MSWD) facilities, the students underwent interventions. Those in areas without such facilities were referred to the community intervention program.
In the Pinamungajan case involving the confiscated revolver, the student was subjected to a discernment test by the municipal social worker.
Mangelan said police were still waiting for the disposition of the case to determine whether a case could be filed against the child or the guardian who admitted that the firearm belonged to him.
Mangelan said the CPPO had already manifested its proposal for the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to become part of school boards.
He also called for school authorities to be included in decision-making processes so police could validate information concerning possible threats.
Mangelan also said the CPPO, which has a total force of more than 3,000, could commit 50% of its troops to secure schools under threat. Through Gov. Pamela Baricuatro, the CPPO also proposed a one-police-officer-per-school security deployment.
He further proposed that schools conduct an inventory during enrollment, giving students an opportunity to declare whether their parents are members of law enforcement or privately licensed gun owners, which police could use for monitoring purposes.
The recommendations were raised as the provincial government implements Baricuatro’s executive order, namely, the Cebu Safe Schools Program and the Cebu Safe School Committee.
Board Member Sanchez said the discussion was intended to identify gaps and strengthen preparations for threats against students and teachers.
‘We hope it never happens in Cebu but hope alone is not enough, we must be prepared,’ said Sanchez.