Bomb threats and carrying and concealing deadly weapons are considered serious offenses with corresponding heavy disciplinary penalties.
As part of Department of Education’s (DepEd) School Safety Campaign, it has begun implementing stricter guidelines to address security violations within schools to protect the welfare of students amid emerging security challenges.
“[W]e will not tolerate any threat to the safety of our students. It is our responsibility to ensure that every school is safe, peaceful, and free from fear or violence,” Angara said in Filipino.
Through DepEd Order No. 006, s. 2026, which establishes the Guidelines on Ensuring a Safe and Motivating Learning Environment (ESMLE) to unify student protection policies in all public schools, several actions now have corresponding heavy sanctions.
The ESMLE guidelines also lays out an organized and structured level of discipline for students based on the severity of their offense.
Acts such as uttering obscene or offensive language within the school, simple vandalism, disorderly conduct, and spreading false information that may cause confusion or chaos fall under first-level offense.
Violators shall be subjected to a written reprimand, a parent summons, and may be subject to a suspension.
As for second-level offenses, it accounts serious or repeated behavior that goes beyond simple infractions including stalking, slight physical injuries, theft, intimidation, and harassment.
A mandatory suspension for the first offense, non-readmission for the second offense, and exclusion for the third offense will be issued to students found to have committed these actions.
Meanwhile, under this unified framework, making a bomb threat and bringing a deadly weapon into school or for school activities are now considered third-level offenses — the highest and most serious category. Other offenses in this category are hazong, murder, and sexual assault.
Also included are joining street gangs; cheating on exams; making bomb threats or threats; causing serious physical harm inside or outside of school; carrying illegal drugs and alcohol; lewd acts; carrying deadly weapons such as guns, ammunition, explosives, and knives; and distributing destructive or obscene videos of oneself, other students, or school personnel.
These carry the corresponding maximum administrative penalties of preventive suspension, non-readmission, or exclusion, along with automatic endorsement to the authorities for appropriate legal action.
Students found guilty of third-level offenses will face immediate administrative sanctions, including non-readmission for the first offense, and permanent expulsion from the institution for the second offense.
Furthermore, schools are also mandated to immediately refer such serious cases to law enforcement authorities and agencies for appropriate legal action.
Under the penalty of non-readmission, the student will not be allowed to enroll for the next school year, but will be allowed to finish the current school year.
Meanwhile, in the case of exclusion, the student will be immediately removed from the school’s class roster and the student may still continue his or her education through alternative educational interventions.
In addition, there will also be a mandatory risk assessment, standardized procedures for confidential reporting of incidents, and immediate provision of mental health and psychosocial support for affected victims.
Aside from these guidelines, DepEd has also strengthened security measures within school campuses around the country following the tragic school shooting incident last June 22 in Tacloban City.
All public schools will be equipped with handheld metal detectors, a stricter visitor management system, regular bag inspections, installation of CCTV cameras, and strategic deployment of security personnel.
DepEd has since released funds for public schools to purchase handheld metal detectors and repair perimeter fences.
It also encouraged Local School Boards to use the Special Education Fund (SEF) to fund measures for the safety and security of schools, in accordance with existing laws and policies.