DepEd 'strongly condemns' shooting incident in Nueva Ecija school
The Department of Education Schools Division of Nueva Ecija has released a statement condemning the recent shooting at a school in Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija, where two teenagers were involved.
"Schools must always be safe havens for learners, teachers, and personnel. Any act of violence within or near school premises is unacceptable and will not be tolerated," they wrote in a statement on Friday.
The department commended Santa Rosa Integrated School for its swift action and assistance in providing urgent medical care to the victims.
"SDO NE emergency response team provided assistance to the learners and school personnel who witnessed the incident and continuously assists the families as the victims remain in critical condition," the statement continued, adding that the team has also coordinated with local authorities and law enforcement agencies to ensure a thorough investigation.
The DepEd said that in light of the incident, the SDO NE team is closely coordinating with appropriate personnel and partner agencies to "provide psychosocial support and critical incident stress debriefing to affected learners and staff."
It also aims to "restore normalcy and ensure the continuity of learning in a safe and supportive environment."
"DepEd remains steadfast in its commitment to protect the welfare of all learners and personnel. We call on our stakeholders including parents, local government units, and the broader community to remain vigilant and actively support our shared responsibility of fostering a culture of peace and safety in our schools," DepEd added.
They appealed for everyone to work together to ensure that schools remain zones of peace.
The statement was issued after a shooting incident was reported in a classroom in Brgy. Rizal, which took place at around 10:45 a.m. on Aug. 7.
According to an ABS-CBN News report, an 18-year-old male student shot a 15-year-old female before turning the gun on himself.
Initial investigations found that the suspect entered the school with a .22 caliber gun hidden in his waist. When he entered the victim's classroom, he drew the firearm from his waistband and shot the victim in the neck. He then shot himself.
Both teenagers are in critical condition.
Local authorities are still determining the motive behind the shooting and where the suspect obtained the firearm. Authorities have yet to confirm the relationship between the two students.
