The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said it had intercepted another alleged threat against a school after a 14-year-old student from Tolosa National High School in Leyte was taken into protective custody, as authorities heightened security following the deadly Tacloban City school shooting earlier this week.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the operation was launched after Senator Bam Aquino forwarded information about social media posts allegedly warning of an attack at the school. Police and local authorities acted on the report and located the student on Wednesday night.
The student is accused of using several Facebook accounts to circulate threats that prompted security concerns among school officials and law enforcement. Investigators have yet to determine whether the alleged plan had progressed beyond the online posts.
Authorities said the student had no known access to firearms, and an initial check found no guns in the family’s possession. Investigators are looking into the student’s personal circumstances as part of the ongoing case build-up.
The incident adds to heightened security efforts after the June 22 attack at a school in Tacloban City, where three students were killed and 20 others were injured. Government agencies have since been monitoring reports of possible copycat threats in schools across the country.
Officials also confirmed that investigators noted the student’s use of the online game GoreBox, which is separately being examined in connection with the Tacloban case. Authorities have not established that the game directly caused either incident, but the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center has restricted access to it while its review continues.
The minor was turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development in accordance with the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act. Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing.
