Tragedy at Las Piñas school prompts security reviews

The fatal stabbing of a 13-year-old student inside a local high school has prompted an urgent review of campus security and emergency response protocols after a classmate managed to sneak a knife past guards, police said Sunday.

Investigators with the Las Piñas City Police Station are scrutinizing entry screening procedures and emergency readiness at Las Piñas National High School following the 31 July death of a Grade 9 student.

Police said a 14-year-old classmate allegedly smuggled a fan knife into the school by concealing it inside an insulated tumbler — bypassing security guards equipped with metal detectors.

"They have security guards and a metal detector," said Las Piñas City Police chief Col. Fermin Armendarez III. "We are looking into how the bladed weapon got through so we can make the appropriate recommendations for the school."

Meantime, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported Sunday that its National Capital Region (NCR) Field Office has extended assistance to the family of the victim.

“The entire leadership of the DSWD extends its condolences to the family of the student who died in the stabbing incident at Las Piñas National High School,” Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said.

“The agency immediately provided psychosocial intervention and initial financial assistance to the bereaved family of the victim,” the DSWD spokesperson added.

The DSWD-NCR provided the bereaved family with P20,000 in financial assistance, along with two boxes of family food packs for the victim’s relatives.

The agency also reported that the local government of Las Piñas will provide burial assistance.

Investigations showed that the attack occurred Friday afternoon after the 14-year-old accused the victim of failing to return P10 in change from a bottled water purchase at the campus canteen.

When the victim explained the money was left at the counter, the classmate pulled out the knife and stabbed him in the left side of his chest.

Security lapses allegedly extended to the school’s medical response, according to the victim's family.

The victim managed to walk to the campus clinic after being struck, but his sister, Aizel Ontong, claimed no medical personnel were on duty and emergency transportation was delayed.

Surveillance footage outside the school showed another student running to a nearby barangay outpost around 4:25 p.m. to call for help.

Local community officials rushed onto campus and transported victim to a hospital via tricycle, where he was declared dead on arrival.