TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte — A tense and frightening situation unfolded at a public elementary school in Tagum City on Wednesday afternoon, June 10, after an intoxicated man armed with a bladed weapon entered the school premises, prompting responding police officers to shoot him in the leg to prevent potential harm to students and school personnel.
According to PLTCOL Edgardo Bahan, Officer-in-Charge of the Tagum City Police Station, the suspect was not a drug user but a public market worker who was allegedly under the influence of alcohol when the incident occurred.
“He’s not a drug addict. He works at the public market and is known to frequently drink alcohol. At the time of the incident, he was intoxicated,” Bahan said.
The suspect reportedly entered the compound of Magugpo Pilot Imelda Elementary School along Sobrecary Street in Barangay Magugpo Poblacion while carrying a knife. Witnesses said the man began acting aggressively, causing panic among students, teachers, and other individuals inside the campus.
Police officers responding to the emergency were forced to use their firearms after the suspect allegedly refused to comply and continued posing a threat while wielding the weapon. Authorities shot the man in the leg to neutralize him and ensure the safety of everyone within the school grounds.
The incident occurred while several students were still inside the campus, triggering fear and confusion among the children.
Videos and eyewitness accounts from the scene showed students crying and running for safety as the situation unfolded. Fortunately, no students, teachers, or school personnel were reported injured during the incident.
Authorities credited the swift response of the Tagum City Police Station for preventing what could have escalated into a more serious tragedy.
Initial investigations revealed that the suspect was able to gain access to the school through an area where the main gate was undergoing construction, exposing a temporary security vulnerability that allowed him to enter the premises.
The incident has sparked concern among parents, many of whom expressed alarm over the security situation at the school. Several parents called on school administrators and local authorities to strengthen campus security measures to prevent a similar incident from happening again.
One concerned parent noted that many children are still emotionally recovering from the recent magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck parts of Mindanao and said the latest incident only added to their trauma.
“We hope authorities will take action to improve security. The children are already traumatized from the earthquake, and now they have experienced another terrifying situation,” the parent said.
Police have taken the suspect into custody and are continuing their investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the incident.
The alarming episode has renewed calls for tighter security protocols in schools, particularly during periods of infrastructure repairs and construction, to ensure the safety and well-being of students and educators.
Despite the frightening ordeal, authorities confirmed that all students and school personnel were safely accounted for, averting what many described as a potentially tragic situation.