PNP eyes community watchers, gadget ban to strengthen school safety

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is eyeing best practices by neighboring countries to boost safety in schools, including banning of gadgets, and deployment of community security forces.

The PNP is ready to be a part of the Joint School Safety Task Force proposed by the Department of Education (DepEd), which will conduct site-specific security audits in public schools, according to a news release over the weekend.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said there are more than 42,000 villages and their watchers (tanod) may act as force multipliers in securing some 49,000 public and private schools.

Nartatez said the PNP would also study security measures discussed during the ASEANAPOL (Association of Southeast Asian Nations Chiefs of Police) Conference hosted by the Philippines in July, following the June 22 gun attack in Tacloban City that killed three students.

"In the different schools in other countries, they banned the use of gadgets like cellular phones and the like. They also implemented a lot of projects and programs," he said.

He said these programs and initiatives would be discussed with the DepEd and Department of the Interior and Local Government once the task force is activated.

Nartatez also ordered newly designated Anti-Cybercrime Group chief Maj. Gen. Andre Perez Dizon to step up surveillance and actions against cyber-related threats.

"The recent incident in a school in South Cotabato underscores the need for stronger coordination and action, particularly against online spaces that promote or glorify violence," he said, referring to the Sept. 18 attack that also killed three minors, including the shooter.

For his part, National Capital Region Police Office Officer-in-Charge Brig. Gen. Christopher Abrahano said they would strengthen coordination with local government units, school administrators, security personnel and other stakeholders to enhance school safety across Metro Manila.

"We are taking the lessons from these incidents seriously, but we also want to assure parents, students, and our school communities that there is no reason to panic. Our approach is to strengthen prevention, improve coordination, and respond to risks based on facts and credible information," Abrahano said in a separate statement.