The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) denied that chemical from fire extinguishers used in a drill was the cause of breathing difficulty that affected some students at Tipas National High School.  

The Taguig City Fire Station conducting an earthquake and fire drill at Tipas Elementary School in Taguig on Oct. 15. Another drill was conducted at Tipas National High School on Oct. 16. (Photo from BFP Taguig's Facebook page)

An earthquake and fire drill was conducted in the school on Oct. 16. 

“Yesterday’s news that there was a mass casualty incident during a fire drill at Tipas National High School, Taguig City allegedly caused by chemical inhalation from fire extinguishers used during the drill is entirely false and unfounded,” the BFP Taguig said in a statement issued on Oct. 17. 

The fire station said “the affected students who complained difficulty of breathing were not included in the fire extinguisher demonstration done at the open area near the entrance of the school. They were in their rooms located in a different building several meters away from the demonstration area when the incident happened.” 

“The false news caused unnecessary panic and confusion to students, the school management and staff, families of students, the neighborhood and the entire country who immediately believed the news to be true,” it said. 

BFP Taguig did not say what caused the incident. 

It added that the supervisor of a person who posted the details about the incident on a Facebook page has apologized. 

“The supervisor of the page handler who first posted the false information in their facebook page has already reached out to this station expressing his apology for the confusion and damage the handler has caused,” the fire station added. 

It said, “As we practice our Constitutional right to free speech and expression, we encourage everyone to be mindful of the consequences when posting information in the social media, especially coming from unverified sources.”