VP Sara orders DepEd to coordinate with PNP for security

The Department of Education (DepEd) will coordinate with the Philippine National Police (PNP) regarding security measures following the death of a minor who accidentally shot himself with his father’s service firearm in school, the agency’s spokesperson said Friday.

DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa said Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte instructed their undersecretaries to direct regional offices and schools division offices to coordinate with their PNP counterparts.

“Specifically, gusto natin mapag-usapan kung pwede mag-identify tayo ng mga schools na pwede na po nating— mag-implement tayo, sa tulong ng PNP, ng checking of bags, spot check ng mga bags," Poa told Super Radyo dzBB Friday.

(So they can help us with security concerns. Specifically, we want to talk about the identification of schools where we can implement spot checking of bags with the help of the PNP.)

Authorities said the 12-year-old boy was playing with a 9mm Baretta when it suddenly went off. He was taken to the hospital but later passed away on Thursday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Poa said they are also coordinating with local government units (LGUs) in providing security and police visibility in schools.

“Nakikipag-ugnayan nga po tayo sa LGUs kung matutulungan nila tayo pagdating sa security or also kahit police visibility sa ating mga paaralan ay malaking tulong na para maiwasan ‘yung mga krimen sa ating schools,” he said.

(We are also coordinating with LGUs if they can help us with security or police visibility in schools, which will be a big help to prevent crime.)

“Meron nga pong mga tanong kung paano nakapagpasok ng mga ganyang patalim o baril sa ating schools and admittedly we need to strengthen din talaga ‘yung security,” he said.

(There’s a question on how these kinds of weapons can be brought inside the schools and admittedly, we need to strengthen security measures.)

He said the DepEd will also tap mental health experts and advocates to craft and implement programs to address violence in schools.—AOL, GMA Integrated News