• THERESA MAE DULMAN
Student discipline must begin within the family rather than rely on law enforcement as a primary deterrent against campus violence, a Bacolod official said.
Councilor Al Victor Espino, chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Education, said that law enforcement should only serve as a last recourse in maintaining safety within academic institutions.
Espino made the statement following a series of violent incidents involving students across the country.
He noted that while recent public attention focused heavily on a shooting incident involving two students in Tacloban City, other areas have experienced a rise in campus violence with the use of bladed weapons, including recent stabbings in Bacolod and San Carlos in Negros Occidental.
The councilor acknowledged that immediate security interventions, such as installing metal detectors and increasing police presence, are necessary; however, these measures do not address the root cause of the problem.
“Violence is inflicted on another person because of the intent,” Espino said. “You cannot stop intent, but you can prevent it. If a person intends to harm you, you cannot stop it at that exact moment; you can only defend yourself. If you are the weaker person, then you are done.”
Espino said the true solution must begin at the foundational levels of society, specifically within families, schools, and churches, rather than relying solely on law enforcement.
He expressed support to Mayor Greg Gasataya’s recent initiatives to tighten campus security measures in the city while simultaneously prioritizing the mental health needs of students, noting that addressing deep-seated issues is crucial to long-term prevention. | TMD
