Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Education Secretary Sonny Angara meets with Ateneo de Zamboanga University President Fr. Guillrey Anthony M. Andal, SJ, local officials of Zamboanga City, and the Philippine National Police during a situation briefing on August 19, 2026, a day after a shooting incident on campus left two students dead.
Angara expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and the Ateneo community. DepEd handout

Article (news)

SHOOL SHOOTING- DEPED

David Dizon

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178753391904720260819-school-shooting-ateneo-zamboanga-angara-Deped8.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Education Secretary Sonny Angara meets with Ateneo de Zamboanga University President Fr. Guillrey Anthony M. Andal, SJ, local officials of Zamboanga City, and the Philippine National Police during a situation briefing on August 19, 2026, a day after a shooting incident on campus left two students dead. Angara expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and the Ateneo community.<em> DepEd handout </em></span></span></span>MANILA — The Department of Education is heeding the call of the Philippine Psychiatric Association and the Philippine Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry to defer nationwide live-shooter drills scheduled on August 25.</div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2026/8/19/school-shooting-psychiatrist-warns-of-copycat-risk-lists-possible-warning-signs-1155">School shooting: Psychiatrist warns of copycat risk, lists possible &#x27;warning signs&#x27;</a></div><p>“Ipapagpaliban namin yun. Makakapaghintay naman yun. Nakikinig kami sa mga eksperto, rinerespeto natin ang kanilang pananaw at definitely i-i-incorporate namin yung mga comments nila. Wala naman mawawala kung maghihintay tayo ng kaunting panahon,” DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said in a DZMM interview.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WXlvbAMjEg8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>One live-shooter drill has been conducted at the Manila Science High School, Angara said, but added that all future drills will take into consideration the proposal of the two groups.</p><p>The two groups earlier warned that conducting the “Nationwide Simultaneous School Safety Drill for Active Attack Incidents” on August 25 would expose learners to “hyper-realistic scenarios of violence” just a week after a school shooting in Ateneo de Zamboanga High School.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/8/21/gun-found-inside-bag-of-14-year-old-student-in-cebu-0936">Gun found inside Cebu student’s bag in surprise inspection</a></div><p>It noted that the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (2025) found insufficient evidence that simulations improve safety outcomes and advised against high-intensity drills or deceptive practices.</p><p>“Preparedness is essential, but evidence shows that hyper‑realistic simulations do not improve safety outcomes and may cause lasting psychological harm to learners. Safer alternatives: such as tabletop exercises and trauma‑informed protocols — can build coordination without fear,” the groups said. </p><p>In the interview,  Angara noted the threat of school shootings is very serious. He cited the case of one student who was not a victim of the Tacloban school shooting who could no longer go to school due to trauma.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/21/-i-don-t-want-to-go-back-to-school-ateneo-de-zamboanga-shooting-haunts-students-1601">‘I don’t want to go back to school’: Ateneo de Zamboanga shooting haunts some students</a></div><p>The DepEd chief said schools nationwide will be given metal detectors and CCTVs, security protocols will be tightened and barangay tanods will be tasked to provide additional security during school openings.</p><p>“Maraming maliliit na schools walang security guard pero kung ang school population less than 100, pwede naman yung barangay officials,” he said.</p><p>Barangay tanods will be allowed to make rounds inside schools when classes are in session, he said. The DepEd is also set to hire thousands of guidance counselors for schools nationwide.</p><p>Angara said he is backing stronger regulation of violent video games, adding these should be limited to those of legal age 18 years and above.</p><p>The DepEd is also focusing on taking down “nihilistic violent networks” that are targeting vulnerable children to conduct violent acts. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D_PSvjv-ppM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/c2QwFl1PiPU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Department of Education is heeding the call of the Philippine Psychiatric Association and the Philippine Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry to defer nationwide live-shooter drills scheduled on August 25.</p>

The Department of Education is heeding the call of the Philippine Psychiatric Association and the Philippine Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry to defer nationwide live-shooter drills scheduled on August 25.

DepEd postpones nationwide 'live-shooter' drills: 'Nakikinig kami sa mga eksperto'

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DepEd postpones nationwide 'live-shooter' drills: 'Nakikinig kami sa mga eksperto'

David Dizon,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 24, 2026 09:17 AM PHT

|

Updated August 24, 2026 09:42 AM PHT

Read More:

education

live shooter drills

sonny angara

school shooting

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