Students of a school in the city of Escalante in Negros Occidental were sent home on Monday, June 29, 2026, following information that a student would bring a gun to campus.

This information was indicated in screenshots of a chat between two students that one of the students’ aunt discovered.

The aunt took photos of the exchange and posted them online.

In the chat, a student using the name “Jacob” said he had planned of carrying out something similar to the violent incident at a school in Tacloban City.

The school and the police took action immediately. The student’s parents and teachers were called to the school for an investigation.

Lt. Col. Florendo Fajaro, chief of the Escalante City Police Station, said they have traced Jacob.

“Kanina, si Jacob na-trace natin. May resemblance siya sa conversation not just the same sa nangyari sa Tacloban City. Actually, ang tiyahin, hindi naman niya na-mention, nag-post lang siya ng pictures,” he said.

The incident came exactly a week after three students were killed in the shooting in Tacloban on June 22. Several other students were injured.

The two suspects in the shooting are both minors, 14 and 15 years old.

On June 29, too, the Department of Education (DepEd) in Region 8 confirmed other schools in the region have also received threats, which are now being investigated.

MAULING

Meanwhile, in Bacolod City, a Grade 11 transferee student sustained injuries in the arm and head after he was allegedly mauled by three of his fellow students.

The incident happened outside their school in Barangay Granada, Bacolod City.

The student, identified only as Addy, said the suspects challenged him to a fistfight but he reportedly declined. Still, they allegedly hit him until he almost fainted. He also reportedly vomited several times.

“Hinamon po nila ako ng suntukan pero sabi ko, hindi ako lalaban kasi sobrang dami nila. Nahihilo po ako tapos suka ako ng suka,” Addy said.

In an interview with GMA Regional TV Ratsada Balita, the suspects said it was actually the victim who allegedly challenged them first to a fistfight.

Addy allegedly told them they are just a bullet away.

“Sinabihan niya kami sa canteen na isang bala ka lang, tapos suntukan raw kami sa labas,” a suspect, Kent Andrei, said.

“Sumigaw siya sa campus, pinagsigawan niya ‘isang bala lang kami raw,” another suspect, Briley, said.

The school has opened an investigation into the incident. The students involved are not made to attend classes, in the meantime.

“Pinatawag ko rin ang mga bata na concerned. Syempre, wala umamin,” said Engr. Llenamar Melchor, the school principal.

The incident has been entered into the police blotter.