By Pexcel John Bacon, Reporter
A STUDENT at Camarin High School in Caloocan City reposted a social media image of a firearm alongside a threat to have people shot, prompting the school to call the police, social welfare officials and cybercrime investigators.
“The child said, ‘I was just joking,’” Principal IV Marissa B. Feliciano told BusinessWorld. “I told her it was inappropriate, especially given recent events.”
The incident illustrates the challenges schools face in preventing violence linked to online threats, bullying, and problems at home.
The public school has about 9,500 students. Ms. Feliciano said parents, community leaders, and officers of the Parents-Teachers Association help maintain order, while a nearby police station sends officers when requested.
But recent school shootings have exposed the limits of physical security. A June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City killed three students and injured 20 after two Grade 9 students opened fire.
On Aug. 18, a student at Ateneo de Zamboanga University was shot and killed by a fellow student, who later died by suicide. Two others were hospitalized, while others received treatment for injuries or panic attacks. A Sept. 18 shooting at Banga National High School in South Cotabato killed three students and injured eight.
Pasig City Rep. Roman T. Romulo, chairman of the House Basic Education Committee, said Department of Education (DepEd) Order No. 6, issued in the first quarter, provided a school safety framework but implementation remained uneven.
Guidelines for assigning security guards should consider more than enrollment, including school buildings, entrances, exits, location and surrounding communities, he said.
“You cannot just base your decision, or use as a guide, the number of learners when deciding on how many security guards you need, because there are many other factors,” Mr. Romulo said by telephone in Filipino.
DepEd was checking how many of the country’s estimated 47,000 schools had functioning closed-circuit television cameras. An earlier estimate put coverage at about 48%, he said, adding that installed cameras offered little protection if they were not working.
Mr. Romulo said schools should work with local governments, police, nongovernment organizations, and security experts because security is not DepEd’s core function.
Raymund R. Narag, an associate professor of criminology and criminal justice at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, said school violence could stem from bullying, humiliation, social rejection, family conflict, exposure to violence, and access to weapons. Online posts can also reveal threats or escalating disputes.
Warning signs include explicit threats, detailed plans, attempts to obtain weapons, and violent posts. But isolation or anger alone should not be treated as proof that a student will become violent.
“Risk is not destiny, and warning behavior is not proof of criminal intent,” Mr. Narag said via Facebook Messenger.
Schools need confidential reporting channels, risk assessments, and timely referrals to counselors and other professionals, he said. Excessive surveillance and automatic punishment can undermine trust.
“A teacher who takes a student’s concern seriously can sometimes prevent more harm than a surveillance camera that nobody consistently monitors,” he said.
PROTECTION BEYOND SECURITY
Child Rights Network (CRN), a coalition advocating for children’s rights, said school safety also includes preventing bullying, sexual abuse, discrimination and cyberbullying.
“These experiences can undermine their confidence, mental health, academic performance and sense of belonging,” the group said in a Messenger chat.
It called for trained teachers, functioning child protection committees, confidential reporting systems, psychosocial support and coordination with families and child-protection professionals.
Students must be able to report abuse without fear of retaliation and should help shape school safety measures, it said.
At Camarin High School, staff promote the values of character, wisdom, and success.
The school has cameras outside restrooms and has closed some fourth-floor restrooms after incidents involving vaping and misconduct. Staff conduct bag checks with parents and discipline officers when necessary.
Ms. Feliciano said the school also responds to online threats. In another incident, a student posted a video involving a firearm amid a local dispute, prompting the school to contact police.
Mr. Narag said schools should combine security measures with anti-bullying programs, parent engagement, and counseling. Treating every troubling post as proof of criminal intent, however, could discourage students from seeking help.
Camarin High School has a licensed guidance counselor and designated guidance advocates for different grade levels. Students can be referred for counseling with parental permission, while more serious cases may require professional assessment, Ms. Feliciano said.
Access to psychiatric care remains difficult. Families seeking free services at Tala Hospital may wait six to eight months for an appointment, she said.
Mr. Romulo said the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act created school counselor associate positions to help address the shortage of registered guidance counselors. Of 10,000 positions allocated for the year, only about half had been rolled out, he said.
He also called for scholarships in guidance counseling, nursing, and medicine to expand the pool of professionals available to schools.
Ver E. Reyes, executive secretary of the Psychological Association of the Philippines, said teachers should not be expected to replace trained mental health professionals. Schools need staff who can identify distress, provide initial support, and refer students to specialists.
“Emotion regulation is also effective,” Ms. Reyes said. “Parenting is also effective.”
Support should include grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives caring for children whose parents work overseas or are otherwise unavailable, she said.
Mr. Romulo said teachers need training to handle students’ concerns while schools address the shortage of counselors. He also urged schools to teach good manners and right conduct and values education in ways that engage students.
Ms. Feliciano called for a balance between academics and extracurricular activities and a review of child protection rules so teachers could maintain discipline while respecting students’ rights.
Mr. Romulo said a proposed Teacher Protection Law would clarify which disciplinary actions would not violate the Anti-Child Abuse law and establish procedures for preserving evidence, with consultation with the National Privacy Commission where appropriate.
Teachers’ fear of complaints could have a “chilling effect” on discipline, he said, adding that enforcement of existing laws needs greater attention.
SAFER DIGITAL SPACES
Ronald B. Gustilo, national campaigner for Digital Pinoys, said social media could facilitate cyberbullying and threats but should not be treated solely as a source of harm.
“We need to create digital spaces where children can safely learn, communicate and participate, not simply keep them away from these platforms,” he said via Messenger
He called for age-appropriate safeguards, privacy-preserving age verification, accessible reporting tools, and digital literacy education. A blanket ban should be a last resort, he said.
“Our goal should not simply be to keep children off social media, but to make social media safer for them while preparing them for the digital world,” he said.
Mr. Romulo said the House-approved SAFE Kids Act would bar children under 13 from social media and restrict certain features for users aged 13 to 17, including chats, livestreaming, and interactions with artificial intelligence chatbots. The measure would allow educational technology authorized by DepEd, he said.
Ms. Feliciano said Camarin High School had stopped lockdown drills after DepEd discontinued the practice. It now gives classroom-by-classroom orientations on emergency procedures and documents them with photographs.
Mr. Romulo said security checks and police visibility could help reassure school communities, but lasting safety requires a supportive environment rather than one dominated by anxiety.
Ms. Reyes said families, schools, workplaces, religious groups, local governments, and online communities all have a role in protecting children.
Ms. Feliciano said peer pressure could sometimes outweigh parental discipline, making cooperation between families and schools essential.
“We open the doors of the school for the children,” she said. “As the saying goes, opening the school gate closes the prison door. But right now, it seems like that is not what is happening.”