Grade 8 student involved in school stabbing allegedly depressed — PNP

The student involved in a recent stabbing incident in General Trias, Cavite was allegedly suffering from a depressive condition, a Philippine National Police (PNP) official said Monday.

“Initially, it was found that, although not yet confirmed, it was found that the suspect or the person of interest was suffering from a depressive condition,” PNP Information Chief and Spokesperson Col. Allen Rae Co said in a briefing.

He said the student is already receiving psychosocial support, guidance, and counseling.

To recall, seven Grade 5 students were injured following an alleged stabbing incident by a kitchen knife-wielding Grade 8 female student inside a school.

The school involved announced that it will temporarily shift to online classes from June 22 to 26 following the incident.

Meanwhile, Co said that police could not just enter schools as these are zones of peace.

“But having said that, ‘yung ating pong kapulisan ay mas lalo pang pinaigting ang coordination with our schools,” Co said.

(But having said that, our police have further strengthened their coordination with our schools.)

“And, of course, ‘yun pong hindi po basta-basta pwede pumasok ‘yung pulis, it stops when there is an actual emergency,” he added.

(And, of course, the rule that police cannot simply enter does not apply when there is an actual emergency.)

He said they have given their recommendations to the Department of Education regarding how to upgrade the security system in schools.

When asked about the motive behind the stabbing, Co said there are reports that it was connected to bullying. However, he said this was not yet confirmed. —RF, GMA News