PNP Chief Plt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. – Photo courtesy of the Office of the Chief PNP/Facebook.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Thursday it was studying closer coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd) to allow police officers to join selected school activities as part of efforts to strengthen campus security.
The proposal came after the deadly shooting at a Tacloban City high school involving two students aged 14 and 15.
The attack left three students dead and at least 20 others wounded.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Nartatez said the police wanted to enhance coordination with DepEd by encouraging regular police presence during flag-raising ceremonies and educational activities.
He said the presence of police officers in school events could help students see law enforcers as part of the community and encourage them to report concerns early.
Nartatez said police officers may briefly engage with learners after school activities before returning to their regular assignments.
The proposal comes amid existing rules declaring schools as zones of peace, which require police and military personnel to coordinate with DepEd before conducting activities inside school premises.
Nartatez said the plan would not involve routine patrols inside campuses, but would focus on voluntary participation in school safety activities in coordination with DepEd officials, school administrators, and local governments while respecting the authority of school officials.