Security intensified at Kapitan Tomas

THE Davao City Police Office (DCPO) beefed up security within the vicinity of the Kapitan Tomas Monteverde Senior Elementary School in the wake of the fatal stabbing of a high school student inside the campus Tuesday.

Senior Superintendent Ronald dela Rosa said he dispatched seven police personnel on Thursday to safeguard the school following reports that gang members who were allies of the slain student are out to avenge the death of their fellow member.

Dela Rosa said the police personnel, who were pulled out from DCPO and San Pedro police, will guard the school only during class hours starting Thursday until graduation day later this month.

He said the number of police guards will depend on their availability.

"Maga-rotate lang na sila. It will play around that number," Dela Rosa said in a telephone interview. "Daghan ko madawat nga storya gikan sa mga ginikanan didto nga mahadlok na daw sila para sa ilang mga bata kay mubalos lagi daw ang pikas grupo."

The DCPO chief said that students, specifically the graduating ones, are now afraid of going to school after the incident.

"Giingnan nako sila, ayaw mo kabalaka kay ako na bahala. Kausa ra na inyong graduation, unya di na hinuon mo mutambong (I told them not to worry. We are there to protect them)," he said.

Dela Rosa said he learned that Merlinda D. Amistoso, Kapitan Tomas principal, requested San Pedro police for police visibility, but he already initiated to deploy personnel prior to the latter's request.

"Ako na giaksyonan daan kay daghan man mga parents naga text sa akoa nagpadayag sa ilang kahadlok so ako na giaksyonan daan (I decided to deploy police personnel at the school to allay fears of some of the parents)," he said.

He said other schools in the city will also be monitored by his personnel.

"Agi-agian lang na sa patrolya kay kung postehan nato tanan skwelahan, wala na tay police ani sa uban tragbaho mag gwardya na lang tanan. So focus lang ta karon didto kung asa ang threat, naa ta didto mag focus," dela Rosa said.

He said that when he went to the school Thursday morning, he noticed that almost all of the students have their parents or guardians along with them.

"Halos 1:1 na ang ratio sa parents ug estudyante. Mao na daghan na kayo parents hinuon," he said.

Amistoso earlier said she wrote a letter addressed to Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio requesting to deploy additional security guards in their school.

She said the school has two guards, a local school board (LSB) guard for daytime shift, while another guard hired by the school is assigned in the evening.

"Dili pud nato siya mabasol kay isa lang man pud na siya (We can't blame the guard because he is all alone)," Amistoso said, referring to the daytime guard-on-duty.

She said they prohibit parents and guardians from entering the campus, although this is not being followed strictly.

"Ang problema namo ani ang mga outsider, nagagawas-sulod kay dili man an kaya sa among security (Our problem is the entry of outsiders who cannot be controlled by our guard)," Amistoso said.

The Department of Education (DepEd) in Davao also conducted an independent investigation on the fatal stabbing of a high school student inside the campus.

DepEd regional spokesperson Jenielito Atillo said it is a standard operating procedure to trace out lapses and determine what action needs to be implemented.

The stabbing incident happened around 10:30 a.m. when the victim went inside the school. The suspect is a 14-year-old Grade 6 pupil.