Baguio school gun scare: 13-year-old found with revolver, probe widens
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — A 13-year-old student was found carrying a revolver inside a Baguio school this week, prompting a multi-agency investigation just as the nation reels from a string of school shootings. The gun, which was unserviceable and unloaded, was discovered at Lucban Integrated School in Barangay Camdas on Wednesday, September 16.
The timing could not be more painful. On the very day officials held a press conference about this incident, Friday, September 18, a gunman attacked a public school in Banga, South Cotabato, killing two schoolgirls and himself while wounding six others. For parents here in the Cordilleras, the echoes of that tragedy hit close to home.
How did a revolver get into a Baguio classroom?
That is the question now driving the investigation. Baguio police director Colonel Nixon Laoyan confirmed the revolver is in police custody. Investigators are tracing its ownership and reconstructing how the Grade 8 learner obtained it. So far, Laoyan said, the firearm has not been linked to any police officer or uniformed personnel.
Major Joshua Mateo, commander of BCPO Police Station 2, said authorities are also determining whether any charges should be filed. No respondent has been named yet.
School acted fast after parent's text alert
School head Felto Agpawa said he learned of the incident at around 12:40 pm on September 16, after a parent sent a text message. The school immediately verified the report, spoke with students, and coordinated with police.
Officials have not said what the student did with the gun. But Agpawa noted that affected learners received psychological first aid when they returned to school the next day. The Grade 8 student involved has been referred to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for case management and has not returned to class.
DepEd launches separate child-protection inquiry
The Department of Education is conducting its own investigation under its child-protection procedures. Schools Division Superintendent Soraya Faculo stressed that the safety and welfare of learners remain the department's primary concern. Mayor Benjamin Magalong has been briefed and is coordinating with Faculo and the Baguio City Police Office.
Security review underway at Lucban Integrated School
Lucban Integrated School serves 2,399 learners from kindergarten to Grade 8. Classes have continued, but the incident has triggered a review of school safety protocols.
Education Program Supervisor Jerry Ymson said the Schools Division Office is working with the local government, police, and child-protection partners to improve coordination and reporting mechanisms. The school currently has a single entrance and exit, one female security guard on duty, and a handheld metal detector at the gate. Police say their initial assessment has not established a security lapse, but officials are reviewing how existing measures are being implemented.
Officials urge public to avoid speculation
Authorities are asking the public not to speculate about the minors involved or circulate unverified claims while investigations continue. The focus, they say, is on the safety of every learner and ensuring that such a scare never happens again.
In these times, when school doors should open to hope and learning, not fear, this incident reminds us all to stay vigilant. Our children deserve nothing less than our full attention to their safety, and our full commitment to finding answers.