Cotabato Schools Suspend Face-to-Face Classes Amid Security Threat

KIDAPAWAN CITY — Several schools in Cotabato province canceled classes on Thursday and shifted to asynchronous mode until Friday following alleged threats to attack school campuses in the area. Col. Ramel Hojilla, Cotabato provincial police director, said a social media post late Wednesday afternoon threatened to attack schools in the province out of disgust with the prevailing situation. Hojilla said the social media post was already being investigated by the police. "We are verifying the authenticity of the post and the identity of the perpetrator," he said. Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) in the province said it has already directed school officials to implement security measures and to coordinate with local police for the safety of students and personnel. "We are taking this threat seriously and will ensure the safety of our students and teachers," said a DepEd official. The suspension of classes has caused inconvenience to students and parents, but most of them understand the need for the precautionary measure. "It's better to be safe than sorry," said a parent who asked not to be named. "I hope the police can catch the perpetrator immediately so that our children can go back to school without fear," she added.