Student found carrying firearm inside Northern Samar school

MANILA, Philippines — A .45-caliber pistol was recovered from a Grade 10 student inside a classroom in Brgy. Dalakit in Catarman, Northern Samar, on Thursday, Oct. 1, according to the Police Regional Office 8.

In a statement on Friday, police said the gun was retrieved after another student reported to a teacher that the minor was carrying a firearm inside the classroom. 

READ: PNP probes source of fake DLSU-D mass shooting report

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The incident, which happened at the Catarman National High School located in Barangay Dalaki, came after another student alerted a teacher that the minor was allegedly carrying a firearm inside a classroom.

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The teacher reported the matter to the school administration, which subsequently notified the Catarman Municipal Police Station.

Police recovered from the 15-year-old student a .45-caliber pistol without a serial number, four magazines, and 10 rounds of ammunition. The student reportedly told authorities that the firearm belonged to his father.

This was then reported to the school administration and then to the Catarman Municipal Police Station.

According to the police, the recovered .45 caliber pistol had no serial number. Also seized from the student were four magazines and 10 rounds of ammunition.

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Following the incident, personnel from the Women and Children Protection Desk assisted the student and then referred him to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office for assessment and appropriate intervention under applicable laws and procedures.

It was learned that classes at the said school, which has over 5,000 enrolled students, were not suspended despite the incident.

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The incident comes amid heightened concern over the security of schools in Eastern Visayas following the deadly shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City on June 22.

READ: Dasmariñas police: ‘No factual basis’ to reports of alleged mass shooting

Police personnel, meanwhile, met with school officials to assist in ensuring the safety of the students, teachers, and their staff.

This is in line with the directive of PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. and the Police Regional Office 8’s efforts, under Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño, to strengthen partnerships with schools, local governments, and other stakeholders in maintaining safe learning environments.

“The safety of our students is a responsibility that we must share. We will continue to strengthen PRO-8’s partnership with schools and other stakeholders to maintain a safe learning environment throughout Eastern Visayas,” Cardiño said.

PRO-8 reminded parents and guardians to ensure that firearms are properly secured and kept away from children and other unauthorized persons.

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The regional police office also urged school authorities and communities to immediately report firearm-related incidents to law enforcement agencies to allow authorities to take prompt and appropriate action. /coa /jpv