NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar catches 12 senior high school students playing online games during class hours on June 13, 2019. PHOTO courtesy of NCRPO PIO
Like a stern father, Police Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director, lectured 12 high school students he caught inside a computer shop during class hours on Thursday morning in Makati City.
Eleazar was inspecting a nearby police community precinct when he chanced upon the students—still in their school uniform—at Sandbox Cybercafe on J.P. Rizal Extension in Barangay West Rembo.
“The computer shop even had a sign [denying entry to] students during class hours but inside, we found the students glued [to] computer screens either browsing Facebook and YouTube, or playing online games such as CrossFire, Dota (Defense of the Ancients) and LOL (League of Legends),” he said in a statement.
The computer shop owner was not around so Eleazar warned the caretaker against violating Department Order No. 86, series of 2010, of the Department of Education (DepEd).
Signed by former Education Secretary Mona Valisno, it prohibits public and private elementary and high school students from going to computer shops, malls, theaters and similar establishments during class hours while in uniform.
Adverse effects
Such a practice, the order said, would have “adverse effects on the students.”
Eleazar said he would recommend that the computer shop’s business permit be suspended or revoked.
“I hope that businessmen would not be the ones to destroy our students’ future,” he added as he called on school officials and parents to inform children about the education department’s policy.
Eleazar had ordered all police precincts and station commanders to inspect establishments around schools, especially computer shops and billiard halls, to ensure that their owners were complying with the regulation.