Some students who play hooky worry that they might get caught by teachers or their own parents. But 12 student-gamers were caught at a cyber cafe by someone they didn’t expect: Metro Manila’s chief of police.
Philippine National Police-National Capital Region Police Office (PNP-NCRPO) chief Major General Guillermo Eleazar scolded 12 students yesterday morning when he saw them inside a cyber cafe in the village of West Rembo in Makati City during school hours.
Eleazar was in the area because he was inspecting a nearby police community precinct when he saw Sandbox Cybercafe on J.P. Rizal Extension. The police chief went in because his curiosity was piqued when he saw a sign at the establishment saying that students are not allowed to play inside during class hours, Manila Bulletin reported.
However, the cop discovered 12 high school students who were playing online games inside Sandbox, reported Radyo Inquirer. Eleazar couldn’t find the owner of Sandbox, so he told the establishment’s caretaker that allowing students inside at that time was a violation of Department Order No. 86, series of 2010, of the Department of Education (DepEd).
The order prohibits elementary and secondary students to go inside cyber cafes, malls, theaters, and other similar establishments during class hours while wearing their school uniforms.
Based on the order, Eleazar said that he would propose that Sandbox’s permit be revoked or suspended, reported The Philippine Daily Inquirer.
“I hope this serves as a lesson to them,” Eleazar told Abante TNT. “We will make proper documentation, and we will coordinate with the LGU (local government unit).”
Metro Manila’s police chief is known for publicly berating people, including his own men. In March, he went viral when he roughed up a cop who was accused of taking bribes from drug suspects.
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