A day after three of its students were caught using suspected marijuana in campus, the A. Bonifacio Integrated School in Iloilo City caught two other students with bladed weapons in their bags.

Security personnel found the weapons when the students’ bags were scanned using metal detectors.

One student was found bringing a regular knife while the other was found bringing a butterfly knife.

The students reportedly said they were bringing the weapons for self-defense because there were people messing with them.

But the principal believes the students may have been influenced by a group they are a part of outside of school.

The group would allegedly tell its members to attack others.

“Merong kabataan na may group chats ‘yan sila. Merong nag-uutos sa kanila na ang isang classmate mo, tambangan mo sa labas. Ang mga nag-uutos sa kanila are not within the school, hindi namin estudyante,” the principal, Ma. Mae Alminaza, said.

The five students have been expelled because their offenses fall under Level 3 of the Department of Education (DepEd) guidelines on ensuring a safe and motivating learning environment.

Read story on students caught with suspected marijuana: https://www.gmanetwork.com/regionaltv/news/114969/students-caught-with-suspected-marijuana-in-iloilo-schools/story/

Because of the incidents involving its students, the school has tightened security in campus.

Alminaza said teachers now check the bags of students every now and then.

“Ang mga teachers, from time to time, nag-che-check na talaga ng mga bag ng mga bata,” she said.

Meanwhile, the DepEd schools division in Iloilo City opened its own investigation into the incidents. It assured parents that the situation is under control and parents need not worry about the safety of their students.

“We have encountered these things considering that we already observed the strict security and safety measures sa schools,” said Atty. Russel Tabang, legal officer of DepEd Iloilo City.