2 Catbalogan high schools suspend classes over online threat

TACLOBAN CITY — Two public secondary schools in Catbalogan City, Samar, with a combined student population of more than 7,200, suspended in-person classes on Tuesday as a precaution following a reported online threat involving possible violence or shooting.

The affected schools are Samar National School (SNS), the biggest secondary school in Catbalogan, and the Eastern Visayas Regional Science High School (EVRSHS).

Samar National School shifted all in-person classes to synchronous online learning after a reported threat of violence or shooting was shared through a private group chat, according to a school memorandum.

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The school said its administration immediately coordinated with the Philippine National Police and other concerned authorities to assess, verify, and implement appropriate security measures.

Authorities are verifying the authenticity and credibility of the reported threat, the memorandum said, stressing that no conclusion had been made regarding its validity.

As a precaution, SNS directed teachers to conduct scheduled classes through online platforms while students were advised to attend and participate in their classes remotely.

The EVRSHS suspended face-to-face classes on Tuesday as a safety measure. Its students were instructed to undertake asynchronous learning activities, while teaching and non-teaching personnel were required to report to campus for safety planning, coordination, and strengthening of security measures.

The school also said it was preparing contingency measures covering the movement and entry and exit of students, personnel and visitors.

The precautionary moves in Catbalogan came amid heightened concern over school security following two deadly school shootings in the country in less than two months.

On June 22, three students were killed, and 20 others were injured in a shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City. Two student suspects, aged 14 and 15, were arrested in connection with the attack.

The Tacloban tragedy prompted heightened security measures in schools, including a subsequent response to another online threat that forced San Jose National High School to shift to blended learning in July.

The concern was further heightened after a second deadly school shooting on Aug. 18 at a school affiliated with Ateneo de Zamboanga University in Zamboanga City. A Grade 9 student shot and killed a fellow student before taking his own life, resulting in two deaths. Two other people were injured.

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The Zamboanga shooting, which was partially livestreamed, prompted renewed calls for stronger school security, responsible firearm ownership. and closer monitoring of online threats involving young people.

In Catbalogan, school officials urged students, parents and personnel to remain calm and refrain from sharing or amplifying unverified information that could cause fear or panic.

Authorities are expected to continue assessing the reported threat before the schools decide whether face-to-face classes can resume./coa