P10 Change Dispute Leads to Fatal Stabbing of Student in Las Piñas High School

MANILA, Philippines — The killing of a Grade 9 student in Las Piñas National High School on Friday was triggered by a P10 change the boy forgot to return, police said yesterday. Initial investigation showed that the 13-year-old victim failed to return the change to his 14-year-old classmate, an incident that led to an argument and, eventually, the knife attack. “The CICL (child in conflict with the law) gave P20 to the victim to buy water at the school canteen,” Las Piñas acting police chief Col. Fermin Armendarez III told ABS-CBN News. “When the victim returned, he gave the water but not the change.” “He was saying that he left the change at the canteen, but the CICL won’t believe it. They had a short argument before the suspect pulled out a fan knife and stabbed the victim at the upper portion of his left chest,” Armendarez said. Faculty members rushed the boy to the Las Piñas District Hospital, where he was declared dead. The Department of Education is requesting people to “refrain from sharing unverified reports or sensitive media online out of respect for the grieving family and the minors involved,” DepEd said in a statement. “Appropriate actions and administrative reviews are being undertaken regarding the security measures and protocols. School guidance advocates will be onsite to provide psychological first aid and psychosocial support to students, teaching and non-teaching personnel,” the agency added. The Schools Division Office of Las Piñas said it remains fully committed to working with all concerned agencies “to ensure that our schools remain safe sanctuaries of learning opportunity and hope.” Sen. Mark Villar condemned the fatal stabbing, as he noted the increasing number of cases of violence in schools since June 22, when two students went on a shooting rampage at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, leaving three students dead and 20 others wounded. “Our schools must always be places of safety, learning and hope – not places where our children are exposed to violence and danger. No student should ever have to fear for their safety while pursuing their education and dreams,” Villar said. He urged law enforcers to better secure schools and for school officials, parents, teachers and the community to promote peace, instead of hate. Villar said the incident stressed the need to pass Senate Bill 2321, or the proposed Learning Institution’s Guaranteed Threat Avoidance and Safety (LIGTAS) Act, which seeks to establish stronger safeguards in schools through increased police visibility, coordinated threat assessments and direct emergency hotlines with police, fire and response units. The measure also seeks to mandate the immediate notification of parents during student emergencies as well as the provision of adequate first-aid and emergency equipment, trained medical personnel and security guards. — Bella Cariaso, Marc Jayson Cayabyab