BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD city – The Department of Education (DepEd) in Negros Occidental condemned violence in schools, including at Bilbao Uybico National High School in the town of Hinoba-an.
“We commit to the principle that schools are zones of peace where the safety and well-being of learners and personnel is of utmost importance,” it stressed in a statement.
DepEd-Negros Occidental issued the statement as it expressed sadness over the shooting that took place at Bilbao Uybico National High School on Tuesday morning last week.
Principal Warren Escosar shot to death his teacher Almarisa Arroy and the latter’s husband Christopher before committing suicide.
DepEd-Negros Occidental said it would wait for the official findings of the Hinoba-an town police that is investigating the incident.
It further committed to bring normalcy back to the school community and would provide psychological interventions to students and personnel who witnessed and were affected by the incident.
The Hinoba-an police said it now has a possible motive in the shooting. Police Major John Ganzon, municipal police chief, said Almarisa was planning to file sexual harassment charges against Escosar.
Ganzon said Almarisa previously filed a complaint through the Office of the President’s 8888 Hotline against Escosar for alleged school mismanagement./PN
