Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr., chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), has ordered all police commanders to coordinate with local school officials to arrange the needed security in schools and its premises.
The order came after the Department of Education (DepEd) sought the assistance of the PNP in securing schools after a 12-year old boy died when he allegedly toyed with the gun of his father inside a school in Bulacan and other previous incidents that include bomb threats on schools in Quezon City and Pasig City.
PNP chief information officer Col. Redrico Maranan said the order was cascaded down to the chiefs of police, part of the order is the discussion between the local police and school officials on the nature of security that would be provided, if needed.
"Our priority is schools with a big student population like here in Metro Manila and other urban areas. The deployment of policemen in schools that need security will be as soon as possible," said Maranan.
"Our Chief PNP leaves to the discretion of the commanders on the specifics of the security coverage in coordination with the local DepEd and school officials," he added.
PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said the initial steps that would be done is the conduct of security assessment, which he said, was part of the order of Azurin,
"As to the number of policemen that would be deployed, the time that they would be deployed would be a task for local commanders," said Fajardo.
She said the additional police deployment would reinforce the existing police assistance desks that are already set up in areas near the schools in some parts of the country, particularly the urban areas.
Based on the existing security measures at the vicinity of schools, the police assistance desks are manned by at least two policemen. They are reinforced by beat patrol policemen who are tasked to conduct regular patrol at the vicinity of schools.
Aside from students and teachers, the current security set up also covers assistance to the parents, especially of the preschool and elementary pupils who are usually being fetched and accompanied by their parents.