The Philippine National Police said Thursday it is exploring coordination with the Department of Education to allow officers to join school activities and improve campus security following a deadly shooting in Tacloban City.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the agency wants to encourage weekly police participation in flag-raising ceremonies and educational activities.
“When students regularly see police officers during flag ceremonies and school activities, they are reminded that law enforcement is part of the community, and that police are always ready to help,” Nartatez said.
The proposal follows the fatal shooting carried out by two students aged 14 and 15 at a Tacloban City high school, which killed three students and wounded at least 20 others. Nartatez stressed the plan does not involve routine patrols inside school grounds and aims to respect DepEd Order No. 44 series of 2005, which declares schools as zones of peace.
He noted the approach had been used before in the National Capital Region and Calabarzon areas under his previous commands.
