THE Southern Police District (SPD) is preparing to file a murder complaint against a 14-year-old student accused of stabbing and killing his Grade 9 classmate inside Las Piñas National High School over an argument about P10, as investigators seek to determine how the bladed weapon got through campus security.
Las Piñas acting police chief Col. Fermin Armendarez III said on Saturday that the Station Investigation and Detection Management Section is completing the documents needed to file the complaint against the 14-year-old in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Public Attorney's Office (PAO), in accordance with juvenile justice procedures.
"We will file a complaint because it is clear that there was intent to kill," Armendarez said, adding that investigators have initially recommended a murder charge based on the alleged use of a fan knife and the circumstances of the attack.
He noted that prosecutors will still evaluate the evidence before determining the appropriate charge.
The fatal stabbing occurred Friday afternoon inside the public school in Daniel Fajardo Village, Las Piñas City.
Police said the victim, a Grade 9 student, sustained a stab wound to the upper left portion of the chest and was rushed by teachers to the Las Piñas District Hospital, where attending physicians declared him dead on arrival at about 4:53 p.m.
Police investigators said the incident stemmed from an argument over change from a canteen purchase.
Killed over P10 change
Armendarez said the victim was on his way to the school canteen when the suspect asked him to buy a bottle of water and handed him P20.
After returning with the bottled water, the victim allegedly failed to give back the P10 change, saying he had left it at the canteen.
The disagreement escalated into a verbal altercation before the suspect allegedly pulled out a fan knife and stabbed the victim once in the chest.
Police said both the suspect and the victim were 14-year-old Grade 9 students and classmates. A fellow Grade 9 student witnessed the incident.
The 14-year-old suspect was immediately taken into police custody, while investigators continue to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
Armendarez said an initial background check showed the suspect had no previous record of involvement in violent incidents or carrying bladed weapons.
Investigators are also verifying the suspect's statement that the knife had been purchased online.
Police have yet to interview the suspect's mother, who is expected to accompany him during the juvenile justice process after coordination with the PAO and DSWD.
Authorities are also investigating how the weapon entered the school despite existing security measures.
Armendarez said the school has a metal detector at its entrance, but the bladed weapon was not detected, prompting police to recommend an investigation into possible lapses by the assigned security guards and the security agency.
"We need to determine why the weapon was able to get inside despite the presence of a metal detector," he said, adding that police have also proposed additional measures to school officials to prevent dangerous weapons from being brought onto school grounds.
The Schools Division Office of Las Piñas City said it is coordinating with the Philippine National Police, local government officials and village authorities in conducting a thorough and impartial investigation.
It also said school authorities are reviewing existing campus safety and security protocols.
Las Piñas National High School said it immediately coordinated with authorities following the incident and is fully cooperating with the investigation.
The school added that it has reached out to the victim's family and deployed guidance personnel to provide psychological first aid and psychosocial support to affected students, teachers and non-teaching personnel.
School officials also appealed to the public to refrain from sharing unverified information, photographs or videos related to the incident, noting that the case involves minors and that the spread of such materials could hamper the investigation and further distress those affected.
The city government of Las Piñas on Saturday said it condemned “all forms of violence,” especially when it happens in schools.
The city government also said they are closely coordinating with the Schools Division Office of Las Piñas, the administration of Las Piñas National High School, the Philippine National Police, and other concerned agencies.
Mayor April Aguilar directed the Las Piñas City Police Station to “further intensify police visibility in all public schools across the city while existing security measures are continuously reviewed and strengthened in close coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd) and school authorities.”
She also instructed the Las Piñas City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) in coordination with DepEd to conduct debriefing sessions, counseling, and psychosocial interventions for students in affected schools to ensure that they receive the emotional support to cope with the incident.
The stabbing death follows a string of school incidents that started with a school shooting that killed three students in a school in Tacloban City on June 22.
Villar: Legislation needed
Sen. Mark A. Villar condemned the fatal stabbing, describing the incident as a heartbreaking tragedy that underscores the urgent need to further strengthen safety and security measures in schools.
"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.
The senator extended his condolences to the victim’s family, while his office continues to provide assistance and support to the bereaved family as they cope with this tragic loss.
Villar called on concerned local authorities and government agencies to conduct a swift and thorough investigation to ensure accountability, while also implementing stronger security measures to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
He urged schools, parents, teachers, and the wider community to work together in promoting a culture of respect, empathy and peaceful conflict resolution among the youth.
The incident, Villar said, highlights the importance of immediately advancing his proposed Senate Bill (SB) 2321, or the 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; direct emergency hotlines with police, fire and response units; immediate notification of parents during student emergencies; adequate first-aid and emergency equipment; and trained medical personnel and security guards.
The measure also provides for the strategic installation of CCTV cameras and appropriate security screening systems, as well as comprehensive safety and security training for students, teachers and school personnel.
"We can never bring back the lives lost in this painful tragedy, but we cannot remain idle. We must take action to prevent such incidents and ensure that every school is safe for our children. Every Filipino child has the right to learn in an environment that is safe, protected and free from any form of violence," Villar said.
