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PNP-Surallah Intensifies Campus Security Drive
SURALLAH, South Cotabato – The Surallah Municipal Police Station (PNP-Surallah) reaffirmed its commitment to student welfare through campus visitations and heightened police visibility around schools in Surallah.
Speaking during an interview on the “Serbisyong SCSC” radio program, Police Executive Master Sergeant (PEMS) Jericho T. Magbanua outlined the police force’s comprehensive strategy to safeguard students. The measures include increased police visibility around school perimeters, continuous school threat assessment lectures, and the deployment of the “Project Speak Up Box” across campuses to encourage confidential reporting of threats and safety concerns.
Magbanua highlighted the urgent implementation of the PNP’s nationwide “Gun Safety Advocacy Campaign,” which seeks to engage parents and guardians directly. The campaign follows nationwide concerns over high-profile violence involving minors who gained unauthorized access to legally owned family firearms.
Addressing legal liabilities under Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act), Magbanua warned that lose firearms, including unregistered, altered, stolen, or expired license weapons pose a severe threat to community safety. He emphasized that under Republic Act 9344 (Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006), while the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility (MACR) exempts children aged 15 and below from criminal prosecution, parents face absolute civil liability and criminal sanctions if a minor causes injury or commits a crime using an improperly secured firearm.
To prevent social media-driven panics, Magbanua urged students and the public to handle digital threats responsibly by reporting them immediately to school authorities or law enforcement rather than spreading unverified claims online. He advised students to limit their exposure to violent games, dark web content, and negative peer pressure.
In addition, as a safety precaution, PNP-Surallah reminded student motorists to comply strictly with traffic laws by securing proper drivers’ permits, wearing standard safety gear, and practicing defensive driving.
