Cebu gov orders tighter school security after arrest of suspect

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol — Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro has directed police to continue implementing heightened security measures in public and private schools across the province following the arrest of a 21-year-old man over an alleged online threat against a school in Bantayan Island in the northern tip of the province.

The suspect, who was not identified by authorities, was arrested by personnel of the Bantayan municipal police station at around 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 20.

READ: Ateneo de Zamboanga shooting: 2 students dead

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Police are investigating him for alleged grave threats and unjust vexation in relation to Republic Act No. 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

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Baricuatro on Thursday ordered the continued implementation of heightened security measures in schools, reiterating her earlier directive to the Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) and local police chiefs to strengthen school security.

The directive was issued in June following a shooting at a school in Tacloban City.

“The safety and security of our students, teachers, and school personnel remain among our foremost priorities,” Baricuatro said.

Col. Abubakar Udang Mangelen Jr., CPPO director, subsequently ordered police units to deploy officers to schools under the one-police-to-school scheme at the city and municipal levels.

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Police were also directed to increase their visibility in schools, conduct regular security inspections and coordinate closely with school administrators.

Baricuatro urged schools, communities and law enforcement agencies to remain vigilant and cooperate in addressing threats.

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“Our schools should be safe spaces for learning, growth, and hope,” she said.

The CPPO reminded students, teachers, parents and school personnel to immediately report threats, suspicious activities and alarming messages to authorities.

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The heightened security measures also follow the recent shooting inside the Ateneo de Zamboanga Junior High School campus in Zamboanga City that left two people dead and one wounded. /jpv