BACOLOD CITY – Iniimbestigahan ng pulisya sa Escalante City, Negros Occidental ang online conversation ng dalawang high school students tungkol sa umano’y planong campus violence nitong Lunes.
Nagsimula ang aksyon matapos kumalat ang social media post na nagbabala sa mga magulang na huwag papasukin ang kanilang mga anak sa Escalante City National High School dahil posible umanong magkaroon ng shooting. Batay ito sa mga screenshot na kinuha ng isang kamag-anak na nakakita ng usapan sa messaging app.
Sa ulat ng Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR), nakikipag-ugnayan ang Escalante Component City Police Station sa school authorities, parents, at City Social Welfare and Development Office para aksyunan ang reported online threat.
“There was no official class suspension, but the parents were given leeway if they decide to fetch their children from school,” sabi ni PRO-NIR spokesperson Lt. Col. Joem Malong sa reporters, batay sa pahayag ni Escalante City police chief Lt. Col. Florendo Fajardo.
Noong Linggo ng gabi, nag-post ang Escalante National High School Supreme Secondary Learner Government sa Facebook na magsisimula nitong Lunes ang bag inspection para matiyak ang “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,” ayon sa post, kasunod ang pahayag na “Because every bag checked is another step toward a safer school.”
Ayon sa PRO-NIR, hinahawakan ng pulisya ang 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.”
Bilang bahagi ng imbestigasyon, boluntaryong lumagda sa written waiver ang mga magulang ng batang pinaniniwalaang responsable sa online threat para pahintulutan ang investigators na suriin ang mobile phone ng kanilang anak.
“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,” ayon sa PRO-NIR.
Batay sa Facebook post ni Jhia Cecilia, nadiskubre niya ang usapan ng kanyang pamangkin at ng isa pang estudyanteng nagngangalang “Jacob,” na umano’y nagkakilala sa online game na Roblox. Hindi pinangalanan ng pulisya kung saang paaralan nag-aaral si “Jacob.”
Sa palitan ng mensahe, tila nagpaplano si “Jacob” na magdala ng baril sa school, binanggit ang fatal na shooting sa campus sa Tacloban City, at sinabing “Monday, Tuesday, I will try.”
Sumagot ang isa pang student ng “Absent ko part 2 (too) early 2 (to) die.”
Sa huling bahagi ng usapan, ipinadala umano ni “Jacob” ang link sa announcement ng bag inspection ng 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,” dagdag ng PRO-NIR.
Ikalawang insidente na ito na may kinalaman sa school violence sa Northern Negros sa loob ng isang linggo. Noong June 23, sinaksak ang 17-anyos na student ng Julio Ledesma National High School sa kalapit na San Carlos City sa labas ng campus.
Arestado ang suspek, isa ring 17-anyos na Grade 10 student, matapos makuhanan ng pulisya ng isang bladed weapon. /Bistado