The Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission (BHRC) has expressed profound grief and concern over the shooting incident at Ateneo de Zamboanga University in Zamboanga City on August 18, 2026, which resulted in the loss of young lives and left members of the school community injured, fearful, and distressed.

In a statement, the BHRC extended its condolences to the families of those who died and expressed solidarity with the students, parents, teachers, school personnel, and the entire Ateneo de Zamboanga community affected by the incident.

“The Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission (BHRC) expresses its profound grief and deep concern over the tragic shooting incident that occurred at Ateneo de Zamboanga University in Zamboanga City on 18 August 2026, which resulted in the loss of young lives and caused injury, fear, and distress within the school community,” the commission said.

As the Children Ombud of the Bangsamoro, the BHRC emphasized that every child has the inherent right to life, dignity, safety, protection, and development, stressing that children must be safeguarded from all forms of violence, including in schools and other places of learning.

The commission said schools must remain safe spaces where children can learn, grow, build relationships, and pursue their aspirations without fear of violence or harm.

“Any incident that threatens the safety and well-being of children is therefore not only a matter of school security but a human rights and child protection concern,” the BHRC said.

The commission called on concerned authorities to ensure that the circumstances surrounding the shooting are promptly, thoroughly, independently, and impartially investigated, with full respect for due process, applicable laws, and child-protection standards.

The BHRC also stressed that children's rights must remain protected throughout the investigation and any subsequent proceedings, regardless of whether children are involved as victims, witnesses, affected learners, or alleged offenders.

It said any response must be guided by the best interests of the child, including the child's right to be heard, confidentiality, dignity, and protection from further harm.

The commission likewise urged the public, media organizations, and social media users to protect the privacy of children involved or affected by the incident.

“The protection of children must take precedence over the public's curiosity or the rapid dissemination of unverified information,” the BHRC said, warning against the unnecessary circulation of identities, photographs, personal information, videos, recordings, or other materials that could identify, expose, stigmatize, or retraumatize children.

The BHRC further called for immediate and sustained psychosocial support for students, teachers, parents, and other members of the school community who may have experienced or witnessed the shooting.

It emphasized that the effects of violence can continue even after the immediate danger has passed, with children potentially requiring ongoing psychological, emotional, social, and other appropriate forms of support as they recover from trauma.

Beyond accountability, the commission said the incident highlights the urgent need to strengthen child protection and violence-prevention mechanisms in schools.

Among the measures it identified were effective reporting and referral systems, psychosocial and mental health support, early identification of children at risk, safe channels for reporting threats or violence, appropriate school security measures, responsible firearm safety and storage, and stronger coordination among schools, families, communities, and government agencies.

The BHRC reaffirmed its commitment, as the Children Ombud of the Bangsamoro, to protecting the rights of children and working with various stakeholders to build safe, inclusive, responsive, and genuinely child-friendly learning environments.