PH gov't wants closer coordination between schools and police for off-campus events

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has directed all regional offices and police stations to collaborate closely with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to secure campuses and major school activities.

“We encourage schools to coordinate with local police stations before conducting major off-campus activities so that proper security assessments, emergency response planning, traffic management, and coordination with rescue and medical services can be undertaken,” PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said.

“Prevention begins with strong partnership and advance planning,”  Nartatez Jsaid, according to a report published on the Philippine News Agency.

Nartatez has announced that the police force is intensifying collaboration with schools and local authorities.

This initiative aims to comply with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to ensure the security of students both on and off campus.

Marcos has called for a whole-of-society effort to protect Filipino students, ordering government agencies and schools to strengthen and strictly enforce safety protocols during classes and activities following recent deadly incidents and violence involving minors.

Police forces throughout the Philippines have been directed to include educational institutions in their police visibility planning and implementation.

After the school shooting in Tacloban City on June 22 that resulted in the deaths of three students, the Department of Education (DepEd) has requested stricter safety protocols and increased police patrols.

Authorities immediately arrested one suspect was following the event. The second suspect later surrendered to the police.

According to investigators, a 9 mm Glock pistol and a .38-caliber revolver were used in the attack.

Police also reported that 40 empty shells were recovered from the crime scene.

-Paraluman News