MANILA — A public high school in Batangas City suspended classes and all on-site activities Monday after receiving a shooting threat targeting junior high school students, prompting a police investigation and renewed concerns over campus security following last week’s deadly school shooting in Tacloban City.
Batangas City Integrated High School (BCIHS) announced the indefinite suspension after a threatening message was sent through its official Facebook page, saying the measure was necessary to safeguard students, teachers, school personnel, parents, and other members of the school community while authorities assess the threat.
“This precautionary measure is being implemented to ensure the safety and security of all learners, teaching and non-teaching personnel, parents, and other members of the school community,” the school said.
“Everyone is advised not to enter or proceed to the school premises while the suspension remains in effect,” it added.
School officials said they are closely coordinating with law enforcement authorities as the investigation continues.
The threat came barely a week after the deadly shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City that killed three students and injured several others, heightening fears over school safety across the country.
Police Lieutenant Sharen Ama of the Batangas City Police Public Information Office said the threatening message came from a dummy Facebook account claiming that students from Grades 7 to 10 would be targeted.
According to Ama, the account purportedly belonged to a Grade 10 student who claimed to have been a victim of bullying.
“Sa ngayon po ay ongoing po ‘yung ating investigation,” Ama said in a radio interview.
She said police have already met with the school principal as investigators work to identify the person behind the threat, determine its credibility, and take appropriate legal action if warranted./PN
