MANILA – The Department of Education (DepEd) schools division office in Nueva Ecija has tightened security within and around the vicinity of the Sta. Rosa Integrated School, which was the site of a shooting incident on Thursday.
The DepEd also condemned on Friday the shooting that left two students critically injured, sparking renewed calls for school safety and security.
In separate statements, both the DepEd Central Office and the Schools Division Office (SDO) denounced the Aug. 7 shooting, where an 18-year-old male suspect shot a 15-year-old female student before turning the gun on himself inside a classroom.
“We stand in full solidarity with the learners, teachers, and the entire school community affected by this appalling incident. Any form of violence, especially within or near school grounds, is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” the DepEd Central Office said.
The SDO Nueva Ecija echoed this condemnation, stating that “schools must always remain a safe and secure place for learners, teachers, and personnel.”
According to the spot report from the Santa Rosa Municipal Police Station, the shooting occurred around 10:45 a.m., when the suspect entered the victim's classroom without warning and shot her in the neck before shooting himself.
Both students were rushed to the Nueva Ecija Doctors Hospital in Cabanatuan City and remain in critical condition.
Police identified the victim as a Grade 8 student and the suspect as a former Grade 10 student who had dropped out.
Authorities are still determining the motive for the shooting.
The schools division office in Nueva Ecija has coordinated with police to ensure a full investigation and accountability.
It will also provide psychosocial support and critical incident stress debriefing for affected learners and school staff. (PNA)