Antique: Antique's 71 secondary schools joined the national simultaneous school safety drill on Thursday. Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division of Antique Superintendent Dr. Ernesto Servillon Jr. said during an interview that the activity familiarizes schools with the 'run-hide-call' protocol in case of an actual shooting incident.

According to Philippines News Agency, Dr. Servillon emphasized the importance of the drill in preparing school heads, teachers, and students to effectively respond to real-life scenarios. He personally witnessed the drill at the Antique National School (ANS), which has nearly 7,000 learners. ANS principal Roger Jomolo detailed the execution of the 'run-hide-call' protocol, beginning with the ringing of the school bell to alert students to the simulated 'shooting incident.'

As part of the immediate response, teachers and students quickly secured their classrooms by entering and locking the doors, while curtains were drawn to conceal them from the simulated shooter. A head count was conducted to ensure all students were accounted for. The school principal promptly contacted local law enforcement and emergency responders, including the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. Jomolo noted that the police arrived within two minutes of the call at the San Jose de Buenavista Municipal Station.

Following the neutralization of the attacker, a parent reunification process was carried out, where teachers handed over students to their parents. Department of the Interior and Local Government Antique Provincial Director John Ace Azarcon, who observed the drill, highlighted its effectiveness in boosting the confidence of school officials, teachers, and students in handling and mitigating potential incidents. He noted the success of the drill, which was conducted without using actual weapons, thereby preventing any trauma to the learners.