School building across Camp Crame's firing range to open this month

The San Juan City government is set to open a school building across Camp Crame's firing range next week amid some claims that bullets reach the facility.

According to a report by Jonathan Andal in GMA's 24 Oras on Thursday, the five-storey building was built in 2015 but has never been used because of safety issues.

The caretaker said he found fragments of bullets in different parts of the school building.

"Minsan ho nakakapulot ako ng dalawa, isa ganyan. Araw-araw ganyan," caretaker Robert Ochoa said.

Since the Philippine National Police (PNP) built a wall around the firing range in 2016, bullets were believed to have been blocked off.

"May certification na 'yan mismo mula sa PNP at sa DepEd. Definitely safe. 'Di naman natin bubuksan 'yan kung magiging peligro para sa ating mga kabataan," San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said.

He added that it was not a safety issue but rather a political issue as the reason the school buildings were not used.

"Dapat ginawa nang danger zone ang buong kalyeng 'yan bakit 'yung paaralan lang ang pinupuntirya nila. Bakit 'di nilikas 'yung mga bahay sa kaliwa o kanan ng paaralang ito?" Zamora said.

A resident who requested anonymity, however, said he recovered a fragment of a bullet near the school just two weeks ago.

"We will look into it. Determine kung how did it happen. We will make some corrective meaures. Until then siguro I would advise the leadership of San Juan na 'wag na muna nilang pabuksan 'yung, ipagamit 'yung classrooms or 'yung eskwelahan," PNP Training Service Director Police Brigadier General Alfred Corpus said.

Around 200 students from nearby schools are set to be transferred to the said building.

Some parents also expressed concern on the noise coming from the firing range that may disturb the classes.

"'Di naman naming puwedeng pigilan 'yung aming operation dito sa aming firing range. 'Di rin namin puwedeng sabihin sa inyo na during office hour o during class hours eh titigil kami ng pagpuputok diyan. We cannot assure you that," Corpus said.

The local government said it will coordinate with the PNP regarding the issue. — Dona Magsino/BAP, GMA News