Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones yesterday expressed deep concern over the plan of National Capital Region Police Office director Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar to conduct random inspection of lockers and bags of students in schools.

The inspection is in line with the expanded anti-drug campaign of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Briones said DepEd is currently coordinating with the PNP leadership to make sure once the plan pushes through the students will not be thrown into panic and cower in fear.

In a radio interview, DepEd Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said Briones is having second thoughts on the PNP plan since they wanted to make sure the rights of the learners would be protected.

Eleazar earlier had disclosed his plan to conduct random bag and locker inspection in schools because of persistent reports that students are being used by drug syndicates in distributing illegal drugs.

It was also bolstered by the results of recent anti-illegal drug operations of the police during which minors or students were apprehended.

The leadership of DepEd though is supportive of the anti-drug drive of the administration of President Duterte but Briones wanted to meet first with the PNP with regard to the plan to conduct surprise inspections of student lockers as part of its anti-drug campaign.

The plan of Eleazar first and foremost is to nip the country’s drug problem in the bud which is in schools.

Malaluan though said Briones wanted to sit down with the PNP to share with them the programs of the department and, if there is a need for an action, there should also be proper coordination and protocols.

The DepEd official said in case the law enforcers will conduct operations or they have initiatives targeting students, coordination should be done since the schools are zones of peace.

Citing the school opening on June 4, Briones said coordination between the PNP and DepEd was good and there is a big possibility the anti-drug prevention campaign would prosper if there would be enough understanding.

Malaluan said the department, for its part, in consonance with the anti-drug drive of President Duterte, has strengthened its drug prevention program in compliance with the order of Briones.

Malalauan said drug testing program will be implemented this school year in relation to the drug-free workplace and drug-free schools.

It would be a continuing program since it was designed for two years and this includes statistical design.

The campign and its results will be made public along with the possible prevalence of drugs in public school system which will also a benchmark for drug prevention.

In the event a student was found positive for drug use the student will not be kicked out but will be sent to a rehabilitation center for treatment.

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