The City Government of Davao has tightened security protocols and stepped up physical deployment across public and private learning institutions following directives from Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, responding to safety concerns after a recent school shooting incident in Zamboanga.
The Public Safety and Security Office (PSSO), alongside the Davao City Police Office and Task Force Davao, reinforced security measures covering basic education campuses and local public colleges, with PSSO Head Angel Sumagaysay clarifying during the ISpeak Media Forum at the Davao City Hall conference room that authorities are balancing active protection with legal frameworks designating schools as peace zones.
Sumagaysay reassured the parents and emphasized that security forces are trained to maintain safety without creating an environment of fear.
"Naa ta’y assurance para sa mga ginikanan... Although gideklara ang eskwelahan nga zones of peace, ang presence sa atong mga pulis ug kasundalohan aiming dili sa ihaha nga i-terrorize, kundi usa na sa pamaagi paano nato mapabilin nga safe ang atong eskwelahan," Sumagaysay said.
(We have an assurance for the parents... Although schools are declared as zones of peace, the presence of our police and military is not aimed at terrorizing, but rather as a way for us to keep our schools safe.)
As part of preemptive threat response, the city security cluster, in partnership with the Department of Education, regularly conducts active-shooter simulation exercises (simex). Most recently, on August 7, PSSO and security forces staged the simex at Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School (DRANHS).
The drills train teachers, students, and administrators on the "Hide, Run, and Fight" emergency protocol, emphasizing that physically confronting an intruder remains a last resort.
Sumagaysay also pointed out the natural limits of law enforcement inside school grounds, challenging parents to take primary responsibility for youth discipline at home rather than relying solely on educators.
"Ibalik nako ang challenge sa mga ginikanan. Diha pa lang sa balay, dapat magsugod na ang pag-disiplina, pag-kontrol sa atong mga anak. Kay looy man pod nga wala na’y pakialam, tapos musalo sa problema ang atong mga teachers karon, nga naa pud limitasyon. So, sinabtanay ra ta, kanya-kanya ta’g trabaho para sa atong mga estudyante," he added.
(I am bringing the challenge back to the parents. Discipline and guiding our children should start right at home. Because it would be unfair to unburden ourselves of responsibility, only to dump the problem onto our teachers who also have their limits. So, let us have a mutual understanding—we each have our own role to play for our students.)
Authorities continue to advise the public to stay vigilant, adhere to safety protocols, and report emergencies or suspicious activities to the city's 911 hotline.
