DepEd sad, disturbed by stabbing at QC school

The Department of Education-National Capital Region said Friday it is "deeply saddened and disturbed" that a stabbing incident involving students happened inside a school in Quezon City as it extended its condolences to the family of the victim.

“We are deeply saddened and disturbed that violent incident such as this happened among our students inside the school which is supposed to be a safe place,” the DepEd-NCR said in a statement.

A minor student was killed when a fellow minor student stabbed him inside the Culiat High School in Quezon City at around 5:45 a.m., Friday.

DepEd-NCR said, as reported by the Schools Division Office of Quezon City (SDO-QC), the involved CICL (child in conflict with the law) student is already under the custody of the authorities.

The students who witnessed the incident already underwent psychological first aid, it added. Students and teachers who witnessed the incident shall also have follow-up debriefing sessions.

The DepEd-NCR, through the SDO-QC and Culiat High School, vowed to provide assistance to the family of the victim.

It further said the Regional Interim Learners Rights and Protection Section, Division Child Protection Unit, and the School Child Protection Committee will come up with appropriate intervention mechanisms for the CICL student.

It added that they shall facilitate the student’s continuous education through alternative modes.

Amid the incident, DepEd-NCR enjoined school administrators, teachers, non-teaching personnel, parents, students, and all stakeholders to work together in raising and educating children to become peace-loving and responsible members of the community.

It vowed to continuously work with all stakeholders to ensure the safety and protection of learners in the schools.

Quezon City mayor Joy Belmonte on Friday said she is also “saddened and horrified” by the incident.

“I have ordered concerned offices of the city government to extend the necessary assistance to the victim's family. We also assure the victim's family that a thorough investigation will be conducted,” Belmonte said in a statement.

“The Schools Division Office is requested to review security protocols in schools and implement additional measures if warranted to avoid a repeat of such incident,” she added.

According to Lei Alviz’s “24 Oras” report on Friday, the 13-year-old victim was stabbed by a 15-year-old, who is also his fellow Grade 7 student in the school.

The 15-year-old looked for the victim in their classroom at around 5:45 a.m. He pulled out the knife he was carrying and stabbed the victim on his chest.

The victim fell down and lost consciousness. He was dead on arrival at the hospital.

Based on the initial investigation, the student was angry at the victim due to “jealousy.”

“Parang selos po. Yung victim natin parang diskartehan po yung menor de edad na babae,” Police Major Don Don Llapitan, chief of Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, said.

The 15-year-old student said that the victim was allegedly bullying students. However, he did not further explain.

Authorities are still investigating how the student brought the knife to school.

“Bago pumasok sa school, dapat chine-check ng mga guwardya o sinong authorities ng school para di makapasok yung ganyang deadly weapon,” Llapitan said.—Richa Noriega/AOL, GMA Integrated News