LUCENA CITY, (Philippines): The prompt response of school officials and police authorities foiled a potential school shooting involving a Grade 10 student in General Mariano Alvarez, Cavite, police said on Tuesday (June 30).
The Cavite Police Provincial Office (CPPO) said officers recovered an improvised, unregistered firearm after acting on information provided by vigilant school officials.
“Acting on information provided by vigilant school officials, police swiftly verified the report and coordinated with the concerned family and barangay officials, resulting in the recovery of an improvised, unregistered firearm,” the CPPO said in a report.
The student, whose identity was withheld because the suspect is a minor, was turned over to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) for appropriate intervention in accordance with the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act.
Police said the case remains under investigation as it prepares the charges to be filed against the suspect in accordance with existing laws.
In a statement issued on June 28, General Mariano Alvarez Technical High School (GMATHS) said it had received “menacing information” about an alleged plan by a student to carry out a school shooting.
The school said it immediately coordinated with law enforcement authorities upon receiving the report to ensure that appropriate action was taken but withheld further details.
According to a report by a Manila-based news organization, a teacher alerted school officials after discovering online messages in which a Grade 10 student allegedly planned to stage a shooting inside the school on July 2.
The CPPO said the incident highlights the importance of vigilance, timely reporting, and close coordination among schools, families, communities, and law enforcement agencies in preventing potential acts of violence.
Police also commended school officials for their swift response and urged the public to immediately report threats and refrain from spreading unverified information or disclosing the identities of children involved in criminal investigations, as required by law.
“The Cavite Police Provincial Office remains steadfast in its commitment to protect every student, every school, and every community through swift action, proactive policing, and unwavering enforcement of the law,” the CPPO said. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
