Fake stabbing 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 incident spread in 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.)

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.

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. — VDV, GMA News