PNP backs mandatory school bag inspections after deadly attacks
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has expressed support for a proposal requiring mandatory bag inspections in schools nationwide as part of efforts to enhance campus security following recent incidents of school violence.
The Department of Education (DepEd) is currently reviewing the proposal following the fatal shooting in Tacloban City that claimed the lives of three students.
Read: DepEd ramps up school security: Metal detectors, etc.
Education officials said mandatory bag inspections are among the options being considered to help prevent similar incidents.
Other proposals include installing more closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in public schools and implementing stricter screening procedures for people entering campuses.
“Our personnel can assist in enforcing these policies once they have been finalized and approved by the concerned authorities,” PNP chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said.
DepEd said implementation of such policy will take into account the size and capacity of schools, noting that larger campuses may encounter logistical challenges due to the high volume of students entering school premises.
READ: Senate panel probes into Tacloban shooting
Nartatez emphasized that the PNP will continue working closely with the education sector to reinforce campus security.He stressed that sustained coordination between law enforcement agencies and school officials is essential to maintaining safe learning environments. /dp
