Angara: Students behind school threats face expulsion, criminal charges

Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Thursday said students found responsible for school threats face expulsion or dismissal and criminal charges.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the EdConnect Higher Education EdTech Summit 2026 in Quezon City, Angara said authorities are treating every reported threat seriously, citing recent incidents in Batangas and Bagong Silangan High School in Quezon City.

“Kaya nga tayo may pinaigting na safety protocols. Pero itong mga threats kailangan talaga seryusohin kasi pag totoo ’yan, we cannot risk. Hindi natin puwedeng i-risk na magpasukan talaga,” he said.

Angara said those responsible for making false threats could face administrative and criminal liability.

“These are very serious violations. May criminal pa ’yan,” he said.

He added that possible sanctions against students include suspension, dismissal, or expulsion.

"Puwedeng expulsion, puwedeng suspension, puwedeng dismissal (sa students)," Angara said.

The Education chief also said additional security measures—including increased police visibility, security guards, metal detectors, perimeter fencing, and closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras—are expected to help deter future incidents.

“I think so. Na-appreciate nila ’yung dagdag na police visibility. 'Yung additional security guard definitely makakatulong,” he said.

Asked whether the recent incidents may be connected, Angara said DepEd has sought the assistance of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), saying the agency lacks the capability to monitor online groups.

“Medyo bago sa amin itong narinig namin… Wala kaming capacity to really monitor the concerted action of terrorist groups, online groomers,” he said.

According to Angara, DepEd recently received a briefing indicating that some online groups are actively recruiting children through digital platforms.

“So that’s why nananawagan kami sa mga magulang na bantayan ang online screen time ng mga bata… Kala nila bata ang kausap nila sa Roblox, wala, terrorist groomer na pala,” he said.

Angara also urged parents to closely monitor their children’s online activities, saying many interactions occur outside school hours when DepEd no longer has direct supervision.

The remarks came amid several incidents in schools recently, including the fatal shooting at a public high school in Tacloban City, a stabbing incident in Zamboanga City, and a false online threat that caused panic at Bagong Silangan High School in Quezon City. —Sherylin Untalan/AOL, GMA News