The Department of Education (DepEd) has cleared the teachers and principal of San Jose National High School in Tacloban City of any liability in connection with the shooting incident that took place on the school grounds.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara visited the school on Monday and emphasized that the primary accountability for the violence should fall on whoever supplied the firearm used by the two student-shooters.

"Well sinabi rin naman ng PNP 'to, papanagutin kung kanino nanggaling ang baril, hindi naman natural na may baril ang mga bata," Angara said.

["The PNP also said this — whoever the gun came from will be held accountable. It is not natural for children to have guns."]

This came amid mounting calls from various sectors urging authorities to hold the school's teachers and principal accountable, citing alleged negligence that allowed the firearms to be brought onto campus.

Angara, however, stood firm in his position, noting that the teachers' swift actions may have in fact prevented a higher death toll.

"Kasi kung hindi dahil sa mga guro mas maraming namatay dito, yung principal hindi rin siguro," he said.

["Because if not for the teachers, more people would have died here — and probably the principal too."]

The secretary also expressed his desire to speak directly with the student-suspects to understand their mindset at the time of the incident.

"Hindi pa po. I'd like to talk to them just to... with the view to understand ano yung mindset nila," Angara said when asked if he had already spoken with the suspects.

["Not yet. I'd like to talk to them just to... with the view to understand what their mindset was."]

Angara also disclosed that DepEd is currently reviewing emergency protocols on how students should respond in the event of a shooting, noting that such protocols were previously not considered necessary.

"I think what we have now is yung ano yung protocol which we never have before, ano yung protocol kapag may namamaril na. It's something we never thought applicable pero meron palang ganyan. Si Sec. Herbosa nagsabi sa akin, so ano yung da-drop na kayo, ano yung behavior to minimize yung loss and deaths," Angara said.

["I think what we have now is a protocol we never had before — a protocol for when there is a shooting. It's something we never thought applicable, but it turns out there is one. Secretary Herbosa told me about it — so what you need to do is drop, and what behavior minimizes losses and deaths."]

Earlier in the day, Angara met with the teachers of San Jose National High School and pledged psychosocial support for them. He also visited the students recovering at Leyte Provincial Hospital.

Meanwhile, the Cavite provincial government announced it will be providing metal detectors to both public and private schools in the province, following a series of stabbing incidents on school grounds recorded there last week.

According to Police Lieutenant Sara Jane Drio, chief of the Cavite Police Provincial Office Public Information Office, the initiative aims to further strengthen security and ensure the safety of students, teachers, and other school personnel.

"Layunin po nito na higit pang mapalakas ang seguridad at matiyak ang kaligtasan ng mga mag-aaral, mga guro, at iba pang mga kawani ng paaralan," Drio said.

["The goal is to further strengthen security and ensure the safety of students, teachers, and other school personnel."]

Once the metal detectors are procured and delivered to the schools, the Philippine National Police (PNP) will conduct seminars to train guards on how to properly operate the equipment.

"Ise-seminar po siguro ng PNP lahat po ng mga guards na nandoon sa mga eskwelahan para lalo po nating maisaayos ang seguridad ng mga paaralan," Drio added.

["The PNP will likely conduct seminars for all guards assigned to schools so that we can further improve school security."]

Angara likewise called on the police to ensure security both inside and outside school premises to prevent future incidents of violence.

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