Cebu City Council urges schools: Boost security

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council has directed all schools in the city, both private and public, to beef up their security measures and to conduct more thorough and rigid inspections especially during events such as commencement exercises, culturals shows and other celebrations held in their premises, where plenty of people would be in attendance.

This, to prevent and avoid any untoward incident from happening here in the city.

Councilor Jose Lorenzo Abellanosa sponsored a resolution regarding the matter which was approved by the council Wednesday.

Abellanosa said that last July 24, 2022, the entire country was shocked to hear the fatal shooting of Ex-Mayor Rose Furigay of Lamitan, Basilan province, her long-time Executive Assistant Victor Capistrano and Ateneo de Manila University security guard Jeneven Bandiala.

Also wounded in the shooting incident was Furigay's daughter, Hannah Rose, a graduating law student of the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) Law school and another innocent bystander.

The shooting incident happened at the AdMU Loyola Heights grounds where the graduation ceremonies of the Ateneo Law School was about to take place.

The shooter was captured and identified as a certain Dr. Chao Tiao Yumol who allegedly held a grudge against the victims.

Yumol, armed with a Rock Island Caliber 45 pistol, despite the gun ban being imposed in Quezon City at that time, was able to approach the victims and was able to shoot and fire at close range.

“Reflecting on the incident, there is a need to beef up security measures, and more rigid inspections should be conducted in schools and other institutions where people would gather and converge and where potential targets such as government officials and other dignitaries would also be in attendance in order to prevent a similar incident from happening here in the City of Cebu,” said Abellanosa.

Further, the council expressed its condemnation of the fatal shooting incident which resulted to the death of Furigay and two others as well as wounding her daughter and another innocent bystander.

The City of Cebu likewise expressed its sincerest and deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the said victims.

GET VAXXED PLEASE

Meanwhile, the Department of Health in Central Visayas has reiterated its call for everyone to get vaccinated, especially school children who are eligible, against the coronavirus disease now that the reopening of face-to-face classes is set to start.

Dr. Shelbay Blanco, head of Health Emergency Management Staff (HEMS) of DOH-7,  echoed President Marcos’ directive expand and strengthen measures to ensure that more portions of the population will be vaccinated against COVID-19.

“Mao na giawhag gyud nato ang tanan nga magpabakuna para sad safety sa atong mga bata, mga kabatan-onan nga mag face-to-face classes na sad”, said Blanco.

Blanco said it is important to exert effort to increase the vaccination percentage, especially since right now, the figure remains at around 60-70%.

“Sa ingon pa gani, no one is safe until everyone is safe”, said Blanco. —Mary Ruth R. Malinao/JMD (FREEMAN)