Bukidnon school bans mobile phones after hoax threat

PANGANTUCAN, Bukidnon — The Jesuit-run Pangantucan Community High School has announced a total ban on cellular phones and gadgets on school premises starting Monday, Sept. 28, following a recent online shooting threat and hoax emergency call.

School principal Kim Peter Diez told the Inquirer that the stricter security measures comply with DepEd Order No. 6, s. 2026, which establishes a Safe and Motivating Learning Environment by prohibiting portable electronic devices during instructional hours.

The policy was also adopted in accordance with agreements from the 2nd General Parent-Teachers Association meeting held on Saturday, Sept. 26.

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READ: Criminologist links campus shootings to family, state, school ‘failures’

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Under the new rule, students needing devices for educational purposes must secure an authorization slip from the Office of Academics.

The crackdown follows an incident on Tuesday, Sept. 22, when classes were suspended after a 911 emergency call reported an online shooting threat, prompting local police to rush to the campus.

The hoax call allegedly utilized the pseudonym “Jackie Bacusala.”

SSt. Chino Angelo Astillo of the Pangantucan municipal police station, tracked the mobile number by posing as a parcel delivery rider, successfully locating the address and identifying three male Grade 7 students, aged 15 to 16, who claimed that they were from Valencia City, but it turned out that they were students of Pangantucan Community High School.

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The minors admitted that the prank call was done out of curiosity, stating it was merely “trip-trip lang.”

The swift police action and subsequent policy changes were also influenced by heightened nationwide security awareness following recent school violence incidents earlier this year in Tacloban City, Zamboanga, and South Cotabato.

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The teenage suspects have since been turned over to the Local Social Welfare and Development Office.

The school currently maintains a total enrollment of 1,301 students. /das