THE UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas’ existing security measures are enough to prevent violence in campus, its safety chief said, as school protocols gain the spotlight due to the fatal shooting in Tacloban City.
“No major adjustments will be necessary because we have our measures in place,” Campus Safety and Security director Assoc Prof. Juliano Parena told The Flame.
“We just need to maintain what we were doing to make it consistently implemented,” he added.
Three minors were killed and 20 other persons were hurt in a shooting incident involving two Grade 9 students at the San Jose National High School in Tacloban City. Preliminary police investigations revealed that two shooters, aged 15 and 14, were influenced by violent content they accessed online.
The incident has triggered discussions about proposals to lower the age of criminal liability from 15 to 12 and adjust existing security measures in campuses.
Parena noted that random bag checks, guard patrols and a “dual-layer” security are currently in place for campus security. An ID tapping system for students and faculty entering the gates also remains active.
Parena urged Thomasians to adhere to the University protocols to ensure their safety.
“We also enjoin all Thomasians to follow our entry and other security protocols on campus,” he said. F
