BACOLOD City — The Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) has intensified security measures in schools and reinforced firearm accountability among police personnel following growing concerns over youth violence and the recent fatal shooting in Tacloban City involving the unauthorized use of a police-issued firearm.
Police Brigadier General Romano V. Cardiño, acting PRO-NIR regional director, ordered intelligence units across the region to strengthen surveillance, community engagement, and coordination with education stakeholders to identify and address potential threats before they escalate into violence.
The directive came in the wake of recent violent incidents in educational institutions and the circulation of unverified social media posts linking such acts to online games, music preferences, and digital content.
Under the directive, intelligence personnel will work closely with the Department of Education (DepEd), school administrators, guidance counselors, barangay officials, Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs), and local government units (LGUs) to enhance school security and improve threat assessment capabilities.
Police units have also been instructed to increase visibility through regular security inspections and preventive patrols in and around schools, particularly during opening and dismissal hours. Monitoring will likewise be intensified in churches, transport terminals, malls, and other public gathering places.
PRO-NIR said intelligence units have also been directed to expand social media and Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) monitoring to validate reports of threats and suspicious online activity. However, the regional police office clarified that threat assessments will be based on verified information and credible indicators, not merely on a person’s gaming habits, music preferences, or online interests.
Schools and LGUs are likewise encouraged to review their security protocols, strengthen emergency response plans, and conduct regular security awareness seminars, emergency drills, and simulation exercises involving students, teachers, and first responders.
The regional police office also underscored the importance of anti-bullying programs, early intervention, and community-based reporting mechanisms to help identify at-risk behavior and prevent violence.
“School safety is a shared responsibility. Through stronger partnerships with schools, parents, local government units, and the community, we can create a secure environment where learners can focus on their education without fear,” Cardiño said.
Aside from strengthening school security, PRO-NIR also reminded all police personnel to exercise the highest level of responsibility in the safekeeping, handling, and storage of government-issued firearms.
Cardiño emphasized that every firearm issued to a police officer remains under the accountability of the assigned personnel and must never be left unattended or accessible to unauthorized individuals, including family members and minors.
As part of the directive, all unit commanders have been ordered to reinforce firearm safety protocols during regular formations and conduct periodic inspections to ensure compliance with existing policies on firearm accountability.
PRO-NIR warned that negligence in the safekeeping of issued firearms may result in administrative, criminal, and civil liabilities, depending on the outcome of investigations. Police personnel may also be held accountable for any loss, theft, unauthorized use, or incidents arising from improper handling or storage of firearms.
“The firearm entrusted to a police officer is not only a symbol of authority but a solemn responsibility. Every member of the PNP must ensure that this responsibility is carried out with discipline, professionalism, and the utmost regard for public safety,” Cardiño said.
Meanwhile, Bacolod City’s Councilor Al Victor Espino welcomed stronger police visibility in schools but stressed that preventing violence also requires greater attention to the mental health of children and adolescents.
Espino, chairperson of the City Council committee on education, said he plans to file a resolution urging the Philippine National Police to further strengthen police presence in schools while calling on LGUs to expand mental health programs for young people.
“We need to fully understand what happened in Tacloban. This is not solely a security issue. We must also address the underlying circumstances because we do not want a similar incident to happen in Bacolod,” Espino said.
PRO-NIR reiterated its commitment to upholding professionalism, integrity, and public safety under the SAFE NIR framework through strengthened school security, responsible firearm accountability, and close collaboration with communities across the region./PN
