Possible school attack in Leyte foiled after tip from Bam Aquino —SILG Remulla

Authorities prevented another possible planned attack in a school in Leyte after Senator Bam Aquino alerted the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) about an online threat following Monday’s deadly shooting in Tacloban City.

During a press briefing Thursday, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Aquino called him around 8 p.m. Wednesday to relay information about an alleged impending attack.

“At 8 o’clock PM last night, Senator Bam Aquino called me. And to my estimation, he was in Tacloban,” Remulla said.

“He gave me a tip na sabi niya may chatter daw sa Tacloban na meron pang isang impending mass shooting na mangyayari sa Leyte,” he added.

(He gave me a tip that there was chatter in Tacloban about another impending mass shooting that could happen in Leyte.)

Remulla said he immediately referred the information to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), which launched an investigation.

According to the DILG chief, the threat was directed towards Tolosa National High School in Leyte.

“The suspect is accused of planning a mass shooting or stabbing aimed at the school students,” he said, citing the CIDG report.

'Be prepared'

Authorities traced the threat to a 14-year-old Grade 10 girl student who created multiple Facebook accounts and posted messages warning of a possible attack.

One of the translated posts allegedly read: “Hello, send this to your friends. Yo, from Tolosa. Prepare yourselves, especially you, as you owe me. Get ready. I will disrupt the school. You won’t know me, but you will recognize me. There’s no time, no day. Be prepared for whoever gets shot or stabbed.”

The DILG said the posts spread rapidly online, alarming students, parents, and residents.

Remulla said investigators later identified the student through social media analysis and information from concerned individuals.

“The investigation revealed that she created multiple Facebook accounts to disseminate this content, which spread rapidly across social media, alarming students, parents, and the public,” Remulla said.

According to the CIDG investigation, the student later deleted the posts after authorities contacted her.

Remulla said investigators found no evidence that the suspect had access to firearms or that there was an organized plot involving other individuals.

“The threat appears to be neutralized and inactive. No evidence of an organized plan or involvement of others was found, and neither [she] nor her family had access to firearms,” he said, citing the investigation.

Authorities are also looking into whether the student may have been influenced by Monday’s deadly shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City.

“It is possible that she was influenced by a recent shooting at San Jose National High School,” Remulla said.

911

The DILG chief urged the public to immediately report any threats of violence, saying early reporting helped authorities intervene before any harm was done.

“Kung may makita po kayo na kahit anong threat or imminent threat or chatter sa mga group discussions na merong gustong gawing mass shooting or violence to be inflicted, please call 911 and inform right awaym” Remulla said.

(If you see any threat, imminent threat, or discussions suggesting a planned mass shooting or violence, please call 911 and report it immediately.)

“Any threat is considered live until it is neutralized.” (Every threat should be treated as real until authorities have confirmed it has been neutralized.)

Asked about the 14-year-old student, Remulla said no criminal charges could currently be filed because of existing provisions under the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act.

“The kid was not charged with anything… Again, 14 years old… he cannot be charged with anything. Or she cannot be charged with anything,” he said.

The DILG said the student remains with her family while authorities continue to investigate the matter. —VAL, GMA News