PALO, LEYTE — Following a surge of false shooting and bomb threats across Eastern Visayas, Department of Education (DepEd) Region VIII Director Salustiano Jimenez is pushing for tougher actions against students initiating hoax security alerts, proposing mandatory referral to rehabilitation centers as a strong deterrent.
Impact of Hoax Threats on Regional Campuses
The call for stricter measures follows a heightened state of security across regional schools after a deadly attack at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City on June 22, 2026. According to regional officials, fake alerts create widespread panic, needlessly trigger emergency responses, and force class suspensions:
Motivation Behind Hoaxes: Investigation reveals several threats were made by students seeking to delay scheduled examinations or force class cancellations.
Affected Schools: Hoax alerts have disrupted campuses across the region, including Leyte National High School, Sto. Niño SPED Center, Holy Infant College, and Kapuso Village Elementary School in Tacloban City; Eastern Samar National Comprehensive High School in Borongan City; Calubian and Kananga National High Schools in Leyte; and Allen National High School in Northern Samar.
Proposed Deterrents: Jimenez suggests housing offending students in rehabilitation centers where restricted movement serves as a clear warning to others, alongside ongoing coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP).
National Policy and DepEd Guidelines
DepEd Central Office recently reinforced its disciplinary framework through DepEd Order No. 006, s. 2026, signed by Secretary Sonny Angara, which categorizes bomb jokes and fake threats as third-level offenses—putting them on par with carrying firearms or illegal drug possession. Under the policy, a first offense results in non-readmission for the following school year and mandatory referral to law enforcement and social welfare agencies, while a second offense leads to immediate exclusion from the school's roll.
