The Grade 10 learner who brought a hand grenade to a public school in Western Visayas has been apprehended and is currently in the custody of the police, the Department of Education (DepEd) said. (DepEd Central Office / DepEd file photo)
In a statement issued by DepEd Region VI – Western Visayas released Wednesday, April 5, the Schools Division of Negros Occidental strongly condemned the incident. It also reminded the learners to be more “mindful” of their actions and decisions. In the report, the SDO noted that on April 4, a Grade 10 learner brought a hand grenade at Rafael B. Lacson Memorial High School in Talisay City. “Based on the information received, the learner was reported to the barangay by a pedicab driver whom he threatened to hit on the head with the explosive when the driver refused to take him to the school,” DepEd said. DepEd noted that as soon as the local authorities received the information, the officials contacted the Talisay City Police Station for an immediate response. The barangay captain also called the principal to “inform her of the incident and cautioned her of the presence of the learner in school.” DepEd noted that when members of the Philippine National Police (PNP)arrived at the school, they immediately searched for the learner until they found him in his classroom. “They inspected his bag where they recovered dried marijuana leaves and a tooter,” DepEd said. “They also did a body search on him and found the hand grenade hidden in his underwear,” it added. Following the incident, DepEd said that the learner “has been apprehended and is now in the custody” of Talisay City Police Station.

Safety of students, personnel

As part of the police emergency protocol, the SDO noted that the other learners were evacuated to the parking lot to ensure their safety. The evacuation also allowed the explosive ordnance disposal unit to secure the area and remove the grenade, DepEd said. The school principal also called the Schools Division Superintendent to “inform him of the incident and asked his permission to suspend classes which he also approved.” DepEd noted that the parents of the learners were also notified that their children would be sent home and must be fetched from school. “After all the learners were dismissed, the personnel were also permitted to go home,” DepEd said. Meanwhile, the school administration is closely coordinating with the police authorities and other agencies and will provide all help needed until this case is finally resolved. “With the help of other partners, the administration will also be conducting a thorough review of its safety and security protocols to ensure that all learners and personnel are well-protected while in school,” DepEd said. The DepEd Schools Division of Negros Occidental reassures all learners, parents, staff, and other stakeholders that it is “taking this incident very seriously and that the safety and security of everyone in the school community are its top priority.”

Psychosocial support interventions

Moreover, the SDO assured that it will provide all the necessary assistance to “bring back normalcy” in the school including the conduct of psychosocial support interventions for all those who have been traumatized by the incident. The Division also reminded all learners to be “more mindful and responsible for their decisions and actions as these have corresponding consequences eventually.” In a separate message, DepEd Spokesperson Michael Poa said that the affected learners have been “immediately shifted to distance learning modalities” until April 5. Poa said that in-person classes will resume on April 11 and the psychological first aid will also be “given upon resumption of classes.”