Inspection Reveals Gun In Cebu Student’s Bag

A Grade 9 student was apprehended after he was caught with a handgun during a surprise bag inspection at Lut-od National High School in Pinamungajan, Cebu on Thursday, Aug. 20.

The weapon, a .357 Smith and Wesson Magnum revolver, was discovered by a teacher in the student’s bag at around 3:50 p.m., according to Cebu police director Col. Abubakar Mangelen Jr.

Teachers at the school have been conducting surprise inspections of the students’ bags as a precautionary measure in the wake of the recent shooting incident in Ateneo de Zamboanga, where two students died, including the gunman.

Mangelen said an investigation is ongoing to determine what prompted the student to smuggle the firearm, which had no ammunition.

The boy told probers his grandfather owns the firearm, which he took from a cabinet at their residence in Barangay Lut-od.

The boy was turned over to the municipal social welfare and development office for intervention.

Mangelen urged gun owners to always ensure their firearms are securely kept and inaccessible to children and other persons.

School threats 

Police have arrested two persons for allegedly posting online messages threatening school shootings in Cebu City and Bantayan Island.

Clarence Regnier Cerilla, 20, reportedly threatened to stage a school shooting against a private university in Cebu City. He was arrested on Aug. 19 at Purok Mangga, Barangay Altavista, Poro in Camotes Island following a hot-pursuit operation.

Police said Cerilla was arrested nearly two days after he allegedly posted a threat in the comment section of a TikTok livestream saying: “Mag School Shooting ko ara ugma.” (I will go school shooting there tomorrow)

A student who saw the post reported it to the Parian Police Station and the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Unit, which worked to trace the account and identify the suspect.

Cerilla is set to face a complaint for violation of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. Police said he was brought back to Cebu City on Thursday to face the complaint.

In a separate operation, police also arrested a 21-year-old man allegedly responsible for a series of online messages threatening to carry out a shooting at Bantayan National High School-Senior High School.

The suspect, whose identity was withheld by police, was arrested by operatives of the Bantayan Municipal Police Station at 11:30 a.m. on Aug. 20.

According to information provided to police, the online messages contained explicit references to a possible shooting at the senior high school in Bantayan Island. In one exchange, the sender reportedly warned another individual to tell the school guard to be more vigilant and to inform fellow students.

The suspect is currently under investigation for alleged violations of Grave Threat and Unjust Vexation in relation to Republic Act No. 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. – With an additional report from Shiela Agrabio/The Freeman