The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) has reminded police personnel to strictly safeguard government-issued firearms while also ordering intensified monitoring and security measures in schools amid concerns over youth violence.
In separate directives issued on June 23, Acting Regional Director Police BGen. Romano Cardiño emphasized the importance of firearm accountability following a recent incident in Tacloban City involving the unauthorized use of a police-issued firearm.
Cardiño said all police officers must ensure that their issued firearms are properly secured and inaccessible to unauthorized individuals, including family members and minors.
“All government-issued firearms remain under the accountability of the personnel to whom they are entrusted. We remind our police officers to ensure that their firearms are always properly secured and never left unattended or accessible to unauthorized individuals,” Cardiño said.
The regional director ordered unit commanders to reiterate firearm safety protocols during regular formations and conduct periodic inspections to ensure compliance with existing policies.
PRO-NIR also warned that negligence in the safekeeping of issued firearms may result in administrative, criminal, and civil liabilities depending on the circumstances.
Meanwhile, the Regional Intelligence Division directed all intelligence units across the Negros Island Region to intensify monitoring, community engagement, and preventive security measures in schools following recent incidents involving school-related violence.
Police said intelligence personnel have been instructed to strengthen coordination with the Department of Education, school administrators, guidance counselors, barangay officials, parent-teacher associations, and local government units to identify and address emerging security concerns.
The directive also calls for enhanced reporting mechanisms for threats, bullying, intimidation, and other behaviors that may indicate planned acts of violence.
Police visibility around schools and other public areas will also be increased through security inspections and preventive patrols, particularly during school opening and dismissal hours.
PRO-NIR said intelligence units have likewise been tasked to strengthen social media and open-source intelligence monitoring to validate reports of threats and alarming online posts.
Authorities clarified that assessments will be based on verified behavioral indicators and credible threat information and not solely on an individual’s preference for certain games, music genres, or online content.
Cardiño said school safety remains a shared responsibility among families, schools, local government units, law enforcement agencies, and communities.
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