THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, apologized to the Department of Education (DepEd) over the presence of armed policemen in a public elementary school in Pangasinan during the first day of the pilot implementation of face-to-face classes.
PNP chief Lieutenant General Dionardo Carlos said upon the request of Longos Central Elementary School officials, Alaminos City Police Station Officer-In-Charge Reinwexk Alamay deployed a police team composed of personnel from his station, with augmentation from the 1st Pangasinan Provincial Mobile Force Company and Explosive Ordnance Disposal-Canine (EOD-K9) group, to provide police assistance and security to ensure the observance of minimum public health standards.
“The police units only had pure good intention in acting on the request of school officials even as he emphasized that it is just unfortunate that some persons may have felt intimidated by the presence of security personnel. The organization shall always act according to its mandate of promoting nation-building among stakeholders,” said Carlos.
The top cop said he ordered a probe to determine possible lapses in the security deployment.
Carlos also issued a memorandum reminding them of the guideline and protocol under DepEd’s national framework on learners and schools.
On Monday, the DepEd maintained that "schools are zones of peace" and should be "free from the presence of armed combatants, whether they be from government forces or armed groups."
Over 100 schools nationwide, particularly in low-risk areas, started the pilot implementation of face-to-face classes on Monday, November 15.