The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is investigating the shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University in Zamboanga City that left two people dead, including the Grade 8 student who was identified as the shooter.

NBI Director Atty. Melvin Matibag said the bureau is coordinating with the Philippine National Police (PNP), which is also conducting a separate investigation into the incident.

“We have conducted an investigation, but we coordinated with the PNP dahil nag-investigaring sila. We will conduct our investigation and then after the investigation we will have a coordination and submit the investigation report,” Matibag said.

According to Matibag, investigators are looking into whether the Ateneo shooting could be connected to other incidents involving violence or threats in schools that authorities have been monitoring.

“Ang mas tinitingnan natin dito, if this is related dun sa iba pang mga nangyari. Na natagal na rin sinusunda natin yung investigation,” he said.

The NBI chief also said authorities need to examine the circumstances surrounding the entire incident before determining whether the school administration could be held accountable.

Matibag noted that the investigation is complicated by the fact that the alleged shooter died after reportedly turning the gun on himself.

“Ang problema rito, yung subject mismo, yung namaril, he also took his life,” Matibag said.

Following the shooting, the Grade 8 student reportedly went to the fifth floor of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University Junior High School building and shot himself.

Matibag said the NBI will continue gathering information and coordinating with the PNP before submitting its findings.

“Hindi pa natin makikita yan, tingnan natin kung ano yung pabuhay ng story. So it's a non-law investigation,” he said.

The Ateneo shooting comes amid heightened concern over violence in Philippine schools. In June, two students aged 14 and 15 allegedly opened fire at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, resulting in three deaths and around 20 injuries.

The NBI and PNP are expected to determine whether the latest incident has any connection to previous school-related shooting or threat cases and to establish the circumstances that led to the fatal shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University.