Fake stabbing, shooting reports disrupt classes at Quezon City high school

Classes at Bagong Silangan High School in Quezon City were disrupted Thursday after false reports of a stabbing and shooting incident spread on campus, prompting worried parents to fetch their children ahead of dismissal time.

Barangay Bagong Silangan Captain Wilfredo "Willy" Cara clarified in a Super Radyo dzBB interview that there were no stabbing or violent incidents at the school, contrary to messages circulating online and through SMS.

"Sa totoo lang, wala namang saksakan, wala namang nangyari. Fake news po 'yan." (In truth, there was no stabbing and nothing happened. That's fake news.)

Cara said the school principal informed him that classes were not suspended, although many morning students were picked up early by their parents after becoming alarmed by the circulating messages.

"Hindi naman suspendido ang klase. 'Yung pang-umaga, sinundo kasi ng mga magulang dahil nag-alala sila." (Classes were not suspended. The morning students were fetched by their parents because they became worried.)

According to Cara, the false information claimed that a student had been threatened or stabbed, causing panic among learners.

"Nabulabog dahil sa texts ng mga bata na mayroon natutok, sinaksak or something. Nag-post-post kasi sila," Cara said.

(The school was roused by text messages from students claiming someone had been threatened with a weapon or stabbed. They were posting such messages.)

He added that some students cried after hearing rumors that they would be stabbed if they left the campus.

"'Yung iba nag-iiyakan dahil ang bali-balita, 'pag lumabas, sasaksakin. Mga fake news po," Cara said.

(Some students were crying because rumors spread that they would be stabbed if they went outside. Those were fake news.)

Cara noted that authorities are still verifying one report alleging that a student had been threatened with a weapon, but stressed that no violent incident had been confirmed.

"So far, quiet and peaceful po tayo." (So far, the situation is quiet and peaceful.)

According to Bea Pinlac’s report on “24 Oras,” the station chief of the Quezon City Police District-Payatas was coincidentally inside the school for a meeting when the commotion broke out. Hence, authorities were able to immediately clarify and debunk rumors of a shooting or a stabbing incident.

“Nag-panic po ang mga parents gawa po meron po nag-post sa social media ata na meron daw po sinaksak o nasaksak at tsaka meron din daw po nagpaputok. Na kung saan sa pag-iimbestiga po natin ay totally wala po nangyayaring ganon,” said QCPD-Payatas chief Police Colonel Rowena Mata.

(Parents panicked because someone apparently posted on social media that someone had been stabbed and that shots were fired. However, based on our investigation, absolutely nothing of the sort happened.)

The false reports prompted personnel from the Quezon City Police District, Barangay Bagong Silangan, the Parents-Teachers Association, and the Quezon City Rescue Department to deploy responders to the school.

School officials and police continued coordinating on Wednesday to ensure the safety of students and address concerns raised by parents.

According to accounts of the incident, students panicked when they heard a loud thud, mistaking it for gunfire. But the police clarified that the loud noise originated from a construction site adjacent to the school.

“Ayon po sa ating imbestigator, sa pagtatanong niya po sa ating kabataan meron daw po sila narinig na malakas na putok. At 'yun nga po ay nakumpirma na 'yun nga po ay galing sa ginagawang gusali katabi po mismo ng ating pong eskwelahan,” said Amata.

(According to our investigator's interview with the youth, they reported hearing a loud bang. We have confirmed that the noise actually came from the building under construction right next to our school.)

The false reports involving Bagong Silangan High School spread just days after separate violent incidents involving students were reported in schools in Tacloban City and Zamboanga City, contributing to heightened concern among parents over campus safety.

The recent incidents have prompted the House of Representatives and Senate to launch investigations into the Tacloban shooting and other related incidents. The Department of Education has reinforced school safety measures and reminded schools to strictly implement existing security and child protection policies.

'False information'

In a statement, Bagong Silangan High School clarified that no stabbing or shooting incident took place in its campus.

It said the messages circulating on Messenger about an alleged attack were "false" and are now under investigation by the appropriate authorities.

The school said the wave of disinformation prompted many parents and guardians to rush to the campus to fetch their children.

"We categorically affirm that no untoward incident or security breach occurred within the school premises. The campus remained secure throughout the day, and school operations were affected only by the panic and confusion brought about by the circulation of false information," it said.

Bagong Silangan High School added that no students, teachers, or personnel were injured and that it is providing psychosocial support and guidance services to learners affected by the incident.

The school also urged the public to refrain from sharing unverified information and to rely only on official announcements, adding that it is coordinating with law enforcement authorities to identify the source of the false information and pursue appropriate legal action. — VDV, GMA News