Parents, teachers urged not to panic over school shooting hoaxes

Local

PARENTS and teachers in Cebu have been urged to remain calm and refrain from spreading unverified reports of school shootings and other threats after a fresh wave of hoaxes caused alarm in Cebu City and Mandaue City.

Authorities issued the reminder Thursday, Aug. 20, following separate incidents that prompted police responses and disrupted school activities.

In Barangay Basak San Nicolas, in-person classes at Don Vicente Rama Memorial School have been suspended at the elementary and high school levels following a shooting incident on Wednesday, Aug. 19.

The victim, identified as a 17-year-old student, was unharmed, while the suspect was arrested and remains in police custody.

However, the incident triggered panic after dummy social media accounts allegedly spread misinformation about the shooting, according to Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak.

Tumulak appealed to students and residents not to circulate messages that could cause unnecessary fear and to report suspicious calls or messages to the police, barangay officials or authorities.

“Among gihangyo mga estudyante ug katawhan nga dili mopakatap ug mga txt or chat messages nga makapahadlok sa uban, ug dili berepekado sa otoridad, hinoon ug dunay katingad-an tawag sa atong kapolisan ug sa brgy hall, or diri kanako,” he said.

A few hours later, authorities in Mandaue City responded to an alleged threat involving Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu.

Authorities later determined that there was no known threat to the school and declared the campus safe.

In a statement, Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu said it remained vigilant and in coordination with authorities to ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff.

“Let us all be champions of responsible media sharing and help keep our community informed, safe, and calm,” the school added.

Students who become fearful and request to go home may be released, but only if their parents personally pick them up from the school premises, the school said.

The incidents came days after a deadly school shooting in Zamboanga City that killed two students. The alleged shooter was also a student at the school.

The recent incidents have heightened concerns among parents and school communities. But authorities continue to urge the public to distinguish verified threats from hoaxes and misinformation.

Police and school officials also reiterated the importance of promptly reporting suspicious messages or threats rather than sharing them online, where unverified information can quickly spread and cause further panic.(RBE)