Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno maintained that the Ateneo de Zamboanga University shooter’s father was negligent in securing the firearms used in the incident.
Nepomuceno said the Philippine National Police (PNP) would handle the investigation, but he maintained that there appeared to be lapses on the part of the suspect’s father, who is a BOC police chief in Zamboanga, according to a DZRH report by RH Tina Nolasco.
“Kahit ano pa ang patutunguhan ng imbestigasyon mayroon talagang kabayaan,” Nepomuceno said.
Nepomuceno earlier relieved the official from his post to pave the way for an investigation into the August 18 shooting.
“Kitang-kita naman natin na may kapabayaan dahil nga bakit nasa bata, bakit nasa kotse yung dalawang baril at hindi niya hawak. At kung nasa kotse man ‘yun dapat nandun siya,” Nepomuceno said.
He also said the firearms used in the deadly incident belonged to the suspect’s father.
He added that the two firearms were taken by the Grade 8 student suspect from his father’s vehicle. One was a BOC service firearm entrusted to him, while the other was his personally owned firearm.
The BOC chief, however, stressed that the official would still be accorded due process as required by law.
“Kung iisipin mo nga parang pormalidad na lang ‘yung imbestigasyon, subalit may due procees pa rin tayong ibinibigay dahil ‘yan at tinatakda naman ng batas,“ he said.
“Ang due procees ay karapatan ng lahat ng Pilipino, so ‘yan ay iginagalang natin,” the customs commissioner added.
Following the incident, Nepomuceno also warned BOC personnel that negligence or violations would not be tolerated, regardless of their position or previous accomplishments.
“Kung ikaw ay nagkamali, o nagkulang dahil hindi mo ginawa ‘yung sapat na pangangalaga diyan mananagot ka sa batas. Regardless, kung sino ka, kung magaling…kapag ikaw ay nagkamali, minsan lang, ikaw ay mananagot sa batas,” he said.
The August 18 shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University left two students dead, including the suspect.
