The police in Region 7 want schools in the region to prepare for any eventuality in the wake of the school shooting that killed three students in Tacloban City.

The Regional Civil Security Unit of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 has recommended that schools undergo simulation exercises that give particular attention to the presence of an active shooter in campus.

“Maliban doon sa earthquake drill at tsaka sa mga fire drill, meron din tayo dito na active shooter drill siguro, no, para kung ano man, God forbid, maiwasan at alam ang gagawin,” said Col. Elmer Cinco, chief of RSCU-7.

Cinco said implementation of this recommendation will be up to the Department of Education (DepEd) and local government units.

Off hand, DepEd said schools must keep a close eye on entry and exit points in campus.

It will also be beneficial if one security guard can be deployed for every 100 students.

DepEd said schools across the country must have security guards and closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras.

At the time of the shooting in San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, the school only had one security guard on duty, according to the Police Regional Office (PRO)-8.

The suspects are also students, both minors, 14 and 15 years old.

Aside from the fatalities, up to 15 other people were wounded in the incident with two still in intensive care, as of this writing.

Authorities traced the guns the suspects used, a caliber .38 revolver and a 9mm Glock pistol, to a policewoman and a security agency in Cebu City.

The 9mm Glock was issued to the policewoman, the aunt of the 14-year-old suspect. She is now under investigation.

Cinco has this message to colleagues in law enforcement:

“As a parent also… police ako na may baril… so mga parents na may mga registered firearms, huwag ipaabot sa mga minors, especially… alam naman natin ang mga bata. Then, i-inculcate natin sa ating mga children ano ‘yung ano ng baril… ‘yung gun safety rules natin,” he said.

The 15-year-old suspect is facing multiple charges under Republic Act No. 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006.