An alleged threat to carry out a mass shooting at Escalante National High School in Negros Occidental, on Monday, June 29, prompted police to intervene, but investigators ultimately referred the student involved to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) after finding no sufficient legal basis to file criminal charges.
The alleged threat came as authorities across the country heightened security and closely monitored similar reports following the June 22 school shooting in Tacloban City that killed three students and injured several others.
Police Captain Judesses Catalogo, spokesperson for the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO), said investigators examined an exchange of chat messages between two students, one of whom allegedly threatened to carry out a shooting at the school.
After completing the investigation, the Escalante City Police Station referred the student to the DSWD, social workers, and his parents, rather than filing charges, citing insufficient legal grounds to pursue a case, he said.
Catalogo added that the matter has also been endorsed to school authorities, who will determine any appropriate administrative or disciplinary action under existing school policies.
He said that police immediately initiated an intervention involving the student’s parents, the recipient of the alleged threatening messages, DSWD personnel, social workers, and school officials to assess the situation, ensure the safety of those involved, and provide appropriate intervention.
The case follows the Department of Education’s directive for schools nationwide to strengthen campus security, child protection measures, and mental health interventions after the Tacloban school shooting and amid concerns over possible copycat threats.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a blog on Medium.