ILOILO City — Police will continue guarding schools across Western Visayas despite the postponement of the controversial active-shooter simulation exercise, as authorities shift the immediate focus from simulated attacks to sustained police visibility and broader campus security.
Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) director Police Brigadier General Randulf Tuaño said law enforcers would maintain security measures in educational institutions even as the Department of Education (DepEd) temporarily halted the conduct of active-shooter drills.
Police officers continue to be deployed to schools to deter possible criminal activity and provide students, teachers and parents with a greater sense of security.
“While we understand and respect the move by the Department of Education, we are committed to continuing the vital preparation efforts already in progress,” Tuaño said.
“Educators and students will receive crucial information on how to respond in case of emergencies, ensuring they are well-prepared for any situation,” he added.
PRO-6 is also coordinating with local government units to strengthen police presence around campuses.
The security arrangement, however, may vary depending on the needs and preferences of individual schools.
Tuaño said some schools have requested that police officers entering campuses do so without firearms to avoid causing anxiety among students, while others have allowed armed officers as a visible show of force.
“Our goal is to give parents assurance that we are doing everything possible to prevent any incidents, including shootings,” he said.
Tuaño stressed that school security preparations should not be confined to active-shooter scenarios, pointing to other threats that could endanger students, teachers and school personnel.
“We must be aware of other serious issues like bullying and various incidents that could jeopardize the safety and lives of students and staff,” he said.
The regional police chief said preparedness efforts should ensure that schools and emergency responders understand their respective responsibilities during a crisis.
“Our objective is preparedness, not alarm,” Tuaño said.
“We want our schools and responding agencies to know their roles and be able to act quickly, calmly, and in coordination should an emergency occur,” he added.
Simulation exercises are intended not only to train participants but also to test emergency protocols, expose weaknesses in existing plans and improve coordination among agencies whose responsibilities may overlap during an actual crisis.
“The safety of our students, teachers, and school personnel will always be our top priority,” Tuaño said.
The active-shooter simulation had originally been scheduled for August 25 but was postponed following DepEd’s decision to temporarily halt the exercise.
The first week of September 2026 is being eyed as a new timeframe, with September 3 floated as a tentative date. The final schedule, however, remains subject to further evaluation and coordination among concerned stakeholders.
In the meantime, PRO-6 is keeping police officers visible in and around schools — maintaining security even without the simulation exercise./PN
