Manila: The Philippine National Police (PNP) has tasked local police offices and units to coordinate with the Department of Education (DepEd) in holding active shooter drills in all schools nationwide. These drills are intended to bolster the safety of students, teachers, and school personnel on campuses in case of emergencies.

According to Philippines News Agency, PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. emphasized the priority of learner safety, stating that the information provided through these drills will serve as the first line of protection and defense during campus emergencies. DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara highlighted that the drills will focus on actions to be taken during a gun attack inside a school, establishing a protocol for school authorities to protect all individuals on school premises.

Nartatez noted that the PNP has been in ongoing coordination with DepEd to craft security measures following a fatal shooting incident at a high school in Tacloban City, which claimed the lives of two students. This tragedy spurred consultation meetings among DepEd, PNP, and other stakeholders to develop a protocol for handling shooting incidents.

Police commanders have been instructed to work closely with local DepEd offices and school authorities from both private and public schools to ensure police presence during the drills. This collaboration aims to build trust and confidence among learners in the police, providing them peace of mind while at school.

In addition to the drills, the PNP is committed to supporting systems that prevent similar incidents, such as regular police visibility, guidance counseling, and anti-bullying initiatives involving personnel from the Women and Children Protection Desk. Nartatez also suggested police presence during Monday flag-raising ceremonies, a practice he initiated earlier in his career.

Nartatez reiterated the PNP's commitment to safeguarding children, stating, "The children are the future of this country and as such, it is our mandate, it is our obligation to protect them and to make them feel safe not only in their homes and on the streets, but also in their schools."