Soldier who killed teacher entered school unchecked – police

The soldier who reportedly killed an elementary teacher in Bocaue, Bulacan, freely entered the school because there were no security guards on duty, authorities said Thursday.

Bocaue police director Senior Supt. Amado Mendoza also said that alleged gunman Ruperto Datwin was known by people at the Tambunong Elementary School, as he used to accompany and fetch the victim Melody Esber.

“Malimit niya kasing hinahatid ‘yong teacher sa eskwelahan, so masasabi natin na kilala na rin ‘yong sundalo ‘don sa eskwelahan kaya siguro siya nakapasok,” Mendoza told Radyo Inquirer.

“Although wala silang security guard, hindi naman kasi natin mapipigilan ‘yon. Unang-una wala naman silang heated argument, hindi naman nagwawala ‘yong sundalo ‘pag pasok niya, tahimik lang siyang pumasok,” he added.

Bocaue police advised the school to hire security personnel to ensure the safety of the students.

“Isa sa mga ni-rekomenda natin doon sa principal na magkaroon sila ng security guard, para naman maprotektahan ang mga estudyante lalo na sa oras ng kanilang classroom instruction,” Mendoza said.

According to previous reports, Datwin approached Esber inside her classroom, before shooting her using a handgun on Wednesday.  The suspect also took his own life afterward.

Police are looking at love triangle and debt issues as a motive for the shooting.

A nine-year-old Grade 4 pupil who was outside the classroom was wounded by a stray bullet after in the incident.  Mendoza said the local government was trying to identify students who saw the gruesome crime, for counseling and guidance.

“Ang naging topic ng pag-uusap nila mayor, nu’ng MSWD (Municipal Social Welfare and Development) kahapon kasama ‘yong principal, ay i-identify at i-account kung sino ‘yung mga dapat mag-undergo ng counseling,” Mendoza explained.

“Kahapon pa lang nag-start na sila dyan, at magtutuloy-tuloy ‘yan ngayong araw na ito,” he said. /cbb