By CESAR JOLITO III
Authorities have been determining the credibility of the viral online conversation where a student allegedly shared his plan to carry out a mass shooting at a high school in Negros Occidental’s Escalante City similar to that recent incident in Tacloban City that left three students dead.
The Police Regional Office in the Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) said they are taking swift action following reports of alleged online threats involving students at Escalante National High School (ENHS).
In a press release issued yesterday, PRO-NIR said the Escalante Component City Police Station immediately coordinated with school officials, parents and the City Social Welfare and Development Office after learning of the reported threats.
Police said preventive measures were immediately put in place to ensure the safety and security of students while the incident is being investigated.
Authorities emphasized that protecting learners is a shared responsibility among law enforcement, schools, parents, and the community.
The threat originated from a post previously shared by Facebook user Jhia Cecilia — now a deactivated account — showing what appeared to be a Messenger conversation between her nephew and another student named “Jacob,” who hinted about bringing a weapon inside school premises.
The exchange of messages shows that “Jacob” seems to be planning to bring a gun to school, citing the fatal Tacloban City shooting last week.
“Monday, Tuesday, I will try,” he said in the chat.
The message also made reference to the recent school shooting incident in Tacloban on June 22.
As part of the investigation, the parents of the child allegedly involved voluntarily signed a written waiver allowing investigators to examine their child’s mobile phone.
Found
Escalante police chief, Lt. Colonel Florendo Fajardo, said they found the 14-year-old boy who claimed that he would bring a gun.
However, the child denied the supposed plan.
Meanwhile, the digital forensic examination aims to identify members of the chat group involved and determine whether there was an actual threat or other individuals connected to the incident.
PRO-NIR stressed that it is taking all reported threats against schools seriously and has directed all police stations in the region to strengthen coordination with educational institutions and local government units to maintain safe learning environments.
“There is no room for complacency when it comes to threats affecting our schools. All police stations have been directed to maintain close coordination with educational institutions and local government partners to ensure that schools remain safe and secure environments where learners can study without fear,” PRO-NIR said.
No class suspension
Escalante police said there was no official suspension of classes in the city following the online mass shooting threat yesterday.
However, parents have been given the discretion to decide whether to send their children to school or fetch them if they have safety concerns.
Police urged parents and guardians to closely monitor their children’s online activities and encourage responsible digital behavior to help prevent cyberbullying, online threats and other harmful activities.
ENHS has temporarily shifted to an Alternative Delivery Mode, as authorities continue while the reported threat is being assessed.
The method will remain in effect until further notice or until school authorities determine that it is safe to resume regular classes./CCJ, WDJ