Manila: The police in Escalante City, Negros Occidental, are investigating the monitored online conversation between two high school students involving a supposedly planned campus violence on Monday.
According to Philippines News Agency, the response was prompted by a social media post warning parents not to allow their children to attend classes at Escalante City National High School, as a shooting could happen, based on the screenshots taken by a relative who saw the exchange on a messaging app.
In a report, the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) said the Escalante Component City Police Station is closely coordinating with school authorities, parents, and the City Social Welfare and Development Office to immediately address the reported online threat.
'There was no official class suspension, but the parents were given leeway if they decide to fetch their children from school,' PRO-NIR spokesperson Lt. Col. Joem Malong told reporters, quoting Escalante City police chief Lt. Col. Florendo Fajardo.
On Sunday night, the Escalante National High School Supreme Secondary Learner Government posted on Facebook that bag inspection officially begins Monday to ensure a 'safe and secure learning environment.'
'We encourage every learner to cooperate as we work together to keep our campus a place where everyone feels protected. This initiative is not about invading privacy - it's about promoting awareness, discipline and the well-being of our entire school community,' it said, adding that, 'Because every bag checked is another step toward a safer school.'
In its report, the PRO-NIR said the police are handling the matter related to the online threat 'in close partnership with the school administration, recognizing that the welfare of the students is a shared responsibility among law enforcement, educators, parents and the community."
It said that "as part of the ongoing investigation, the parents of the child believed to be responsible for the online threat voluntarily executed a written waiver authorizing investigators to examine their child's mobile phone."
"This consent allows law enforcement to lawfully conduct a digital forensic examination of the device to identify the individuals involved in the chat group and determine the extent of any potential threats," the PRO-NIR said.
Based on the Facebook post of Jhia Cecilia, she discovered the conversation between her nephew and another student named 'Jacob,' noting that both met in the Roblox online game.
However, the police has not named the school where 'Jacob' is studying.
The exchange indicates that 'Jacob' seems to be planning to bring a gun to school, mentioning the fatal Tacloban City campus shooting and saying, "Monday, Tuesday, I will try."
The other student replied, "Absent ko part 2 (too) early 2 (to) die."
In the latter part of the conversation, 'Jacob' sent to the other student a link to the bag inspection announcement of Escalante National High School Supreme Secondary Learner Government.
"PRO-NIR assures the public that there is no room for complacency when it comes to threats affecting our schools. All police stations across the region have likewise been directed to maintain close coordination with educational institutions and local government partners," it added.
This is the second incident involving student violence in northern Negros in only a week.
On June 23, a 17-year-old student of Julio Ledesma National High School in the neighboring San Carlos City was stabbed by a Grade 10 student outside the campus.
The suspect, also 17, was arrested by the police with a bladed weapon in his possession.
