A case of jumping the gun or just being extra cautious?

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla announced Thursday that authorities had foiled a “copycat” school attack planned by a 14-year-old student in Leyte.

Hours later, however, the Leyte Police Provincial Office told DAILY TRIBUNE that its investigation found no verified information indicating an actual or imminent threat. Speaking at Camp Crame, Remulla said he ordered an immediate investigation after Senator Bam Aquino informed him Wednesday night of a supposed plan to carry out a mass shooting or stabbing at Tolosa National High School in Tolosa, Leyte.

The information was referred to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, which immediately coordinated with local police.

“We think this was someone trying to commit a copycat crime,” Remulla said.

“That is what is dangerous because young people see in video games how easy it is to kill someone and think, ‘If it happened there, I can do it, too,’” he added.

Remulla claimed a Grade 10 student had posted on Facebook a warning about a possible shooting or stabbing spree. He clarified that the teenager had no access to a firearm and may have been influenced by the recent school shooting in Tacloban City.

Tacloban shooting

The supposed copycat threat surfaced two days after a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old carried out a shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City that left four people dead and several others wounded.

The attack on 22 June shocked the nation and prompted renewed calls to strengthen school security and revisit the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act.

The Leyte Police Provincial Office, however, later issued a statement saying, “Based on the findings, there is no verified information indicating any actual or imminent threat.”

Lt. Mary Antonnette Espina, spokesperson for the Leyte Police Provincial Office, said the alarming post originated from a fake Facebook account created by a 14-year-old girl from Tolosa.

According to Espina, the teenager asked her online friends through Messenger to circulate a warning that she would indiscriminately stab or shoot people at Tolosa National High School.

Police said the girl later admitted that she made the posts only to attract the attention of her friends and family while she was dealing with personal problems, including her parents’ inability to accept her as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

The screenshots of the messages have since been deleted.

‘Every threat real’

The provincial police said it continues to monitor the situation and has adopted preventive measures to ensure the safety of students, teachers and the public.

Remulla, meanwhile, stressed that the authorities should never dismiss online threats.

“You cannot simply say someone is not serious. Every threat is considered real until it is neutralized,” he said.

“If you see even the slightest warning of something horrific about to happen, call 911 immediately so authorities can investigate. That could prevent another tragedy like what happened last Monday,” he added.