Sultan Kudarat school principal: No shooting, hostage-taking

KORONADAL CITY — The principal of Isulan National High School in Sultan Kudarat province on Wednesday vehemently denied reports of a shooting or hostage-taking on campus, saying all students were safe following a security scare that prompted a lockdown.

“There was no shooting incident, and there was no hostage-taking,” school principal Lorna Lee Ann Valencia said, addressing what she described as misinformation circulating about the incident.

Valencia said police arrived at the school within five minutes and helped contain the situation and ease concerns among students and school personnel.

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: Police report no injuries in Sultan Kudarat school incident

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

She said students immediately followed lockdown procedures, which they had practiced during a drill on Sept. 18.

“The children were alert. They did not panic,” Valencia said.

She said classrooms were locked during the lockdown, and responding police officers initially could not enter them to speak with those inside.

Valencia said the situation was eventually brought under control, with no casualties reported.

Article continues after this advertisement

“Everybody is safe,” she said, adding that the students were able to return home peacefully.

Lt. Col. Neil Sally Wadingan, Isulan chief of police, said authorities were still gathering statements and evidence to establish what happened inside the school.

Article continues after this advertisement

Wadingan said 16 students fainted during the incident, but none were injured. All of them were later allowed to return home./coa