7 GRADE 5 STUDENTS STABBED BY SCHOOLMATE: MAYOR ORDERS STRICTER SAFETY MEASURES IN GENTRI SCHOOLS

MAYOR Luis “Jon Jon” Ferrer IV on Wednesday ordered stricter safety measures in all schools in General Trias City, Cavite following the stabbing of seven Grade 5 students by a Grade 8 student at a private school in the city.

An investigation showed the stabbing occurred at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday inside the victims’ classroom on the ground floor of the private school.

The Grade 8 female student, who was armed with a kitchen knife, reportedly came down from the second floor of the school and went to the victims’ classroom then started stabbing them for no apparent reason.

The seven Grade 5 students were rushed to the hospital, where two were transferred to a larger medical facility for surgery after incurring severe injuries.

Classes were canceled as part of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)

Ferrer, after being informed of the incident, personally went to the hospital, with the police and some personnel of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) to check on the condition of the injured students.

The mayor also assured parents of the injured students of the city government’s support for the hospital expenses.

According to Ferrer, the CSWDO will lead immediate psycho-social intervention and other assistance, especially for students who may have experienced trauma due to the incident.

He also talked with the student-suspect before she was taken to a mental health institution for appropriate assessment.

The young suspect was reportedlt suffering from depression.

The mayor also went to the school, along with General Trias Police Station chief Lt. Col. Bismark Mendoza, and the Provincial Police Office, to assess the situation and ensure an immediate response and investigation.

Mayor Ferrer immediately ordered stricter implementation of existing safety measures in all public and private schools in the city, including thorough inspection of bags.

“Although the person involved is a minor, we strongly emphasize that this type of incident is unacceptable and we will remain strict in enforcing the laws to ensure peace, order, and security in our city,” the mayor said in a post on his official social media page.

Meanwhile, the Department of Education ( DepEd) urged the public to respect  the privacy, dignity, and rights of all children involved in the incident.

It also encouraged the public to refrain from spreading unverified information, as it asked everyone to allow the proper authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation.

“We are closely coordinating with school authorities and relevant government agencies to ensure that the affected learners receive the necessary support, assistance, and appropriate interventions,” the DepEd, in a statement, said.

“Our regional and division offices remain on standby to provide additional assistance as needed, the statement added.

The DepEd reiterated  that the safety, well-being, and mental health of learners remain among their top  priorities.