President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has ordered law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into the shooting incident at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University Junior High School in Zamboanga City that left two people dead and nine others injured on Tuesday, August 18.
The shooting triggered panic inside the school campus after gunshots were reported. Five gunshots were heard inside the campus, prompting police to respond after reports that a Grade 7 student was allegedly carrying a firearm.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said the situation was brought under control as the Police Regional Office 9 and Zamboanga City Police Office coordinated with school officials and other agencies to ensure the safety and orderly movement of students, faculty members and school personnel.
In a Facebook post, Marcos expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and the Ateneo de Zamboanga community, emphasizing that schools should be safe spaces for students.
“We grieve with the families and the entire Ateneo de Zamboanga community over a tragedy that should never have happened.”
“Our schools are where we entrust our children to learn, to grow and to dream about the lives ahead of them. They must also be among the safest places in our country,” the President said.
Marcos said he had directed law enforcement agencies to investigate the incident and determine measures needed to prevent similar tragedies.
“I have directed our law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into this incident and to determine what more must be done to prevent another family, another school and another community from suffering the same grief,” he said.
He also pledged to work with schools and communities to strengthen security measures and protect students from similar incidents.
“We will work with our schools and communities to strengthen the safeguards that protect our students and ensure that they can pursue their education without fear,” Marcos said.
“Every Filipino family deserves that assurance,” he added.
The PNP, meanwhile, urged parents and guardians to remain calm and follow official school advisories regarding the safe pickup of students. Authorities also appealed to the public to refrain from sharing unverified reports, photos or videos that could cause further alarm.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting remains ongoing. The university has likewise urged the public to respect the privacy of those affected and rely only on official information.
