The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is working with the Department of Education (DepEd) on a proposed memorandum circular that would allow barangay tanods to be deployed inside schools to augment security and help inspect students’ bags before they enter school premises.
DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla disclosed the measure during the House Committee on Appropriations’ budget briefing and hearings on the proposed 2027 national budget for the department on Thursday, August 27.
Remulla said barangay tanods would form part of the security augmentation force in schools, particularly in helping monitor students and conduct bag inspections at entry points.
“The Department of Education and the DILG are entering into a memorandum circular to allow barangay tanods inside the school buildings. So they will be part of the security augmentation force to inspect the bags before they enter,” Remulla said.
He added that the Philippine National Police (PNP) would continue to provide security during the ingress and egress of students, providing additional police presence during school hours.
“The PNP is regularly scheduled in the ingress and egress of students during school time. They are required to be there,” Remulla said.
The proposed measure is intended to strengthen security in schools and help prevent incidents of violence, including school shootings, following recent cases involving students.
During the hearing, Akbayan Party-list Representative Dadah Kiram Ismula also asked the DILG about reports raised during a Senate hearing regarding the possible involvement of the so-called True Crime Community (TCC) and its alleged subcultures, including “764,” in school shooting incidents.
Ismula specifically asked whether investigators had found any connection between the group and the recent shooting incident in Zamboanga City.
Remulla clarified that the reported connection remains only a theory and that investigators have found no conclusive evidence showing that the group influenced the child in conflict with the law (CICL) involved in the incident.
“Yes, there's no conclusive link that the group influenced the boy into his actions,” Remulla said.
The DILG chief’s clarification comes amid ongoing investigations into school-related violence and concerns over the possible influence of online communities and groups on minors involved in violent incidents.
Ismula also asked how the DILG, Philippine National Police (PNP) and other government agencies are coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) in investigating school shootings and preventing similar incidents targeting children.
Remulla said strengthening security at school entrances through the proposed DILG-DepEd memorandum circular would be among the preventive measures being pursued, alongside the continued deployment of police officers during student arrival and dismissal periods.
The proposed deployment of barangay tanods would add another layer of security inside schools, while the PNP would retain its role in providing security during critical periods of student movement.
The measure is part of broader government efforts to address school safety and prevent violence following recent incidents involving minors and educational institutions.
