Manila: The Department of Education (DepEd) regional office in Eastern Visayas is advocating for more stringent measures against students who issue false threats to schools. This move comes in response to a spate of fake shooting and bomb threats targeting educational institutions in the region.
According to Philippines News Agency, DepEd Eastern Visayas Regional Director Salustiano Jimenez emphasized the need for decisive action against students who make such threats, even if intended as jokes. This follows the tragic incident at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City on June 22, 2026. Jimenez stated, "We are in coordination with the Philippine National Police and other agencies on what to do with students who jokingly threaten to launch violence inside campuses. Students must take alerts seriously and be dealt with accordingly."
Jimenez highlighted that these fake alerts not only prompt emergency responses but also instigate panic and disrupt educational activities. To deter such behavior, he suggested that students responsible for fake threats should be admitted to rehabilitation centers, noting that restricted movement in such facilities serves as a deterrent.
The regional director reported that several schools in Eastern Visayas, including Kapuso Village Elementary School, Sto. Ni±o SPED Center, and Holy Infant College, have been targeted by threats since the June 22 incident. He noted that some students might use these threats as a tactic to suspend classes, especially during examination periods.
In a related development, the DepEd central office has issued a warning stating that students making bomb threats-even in jest-will face severe consequences, including being barred from enrolling in their schools for the subsequent academic year. Under DepEd Order No. 006, s. 2026, such threats are categorized as third-level offenses, which also include carrying firearms, drug possession, hazing, and homicide.
For a first offense involving a bomb threat or joke, students will face non-readmission, allowing them to complete the current school year but preventing enrollment in the next. Furthermore, they will be referred to authorities like the Philippine National Police and the Social Welfare and Development Office. A second offense will lead to immediate exclusion, effectively removing the student from the school's class list.
