Zamboanga city: Senators on Tuesday pressed for answers on how two firearms slipped into a Zamboanga City school as another fatal campus shooting renewed concerns over the safety and support systems protecting Filipino students. Senate President Win Gatchalian said authorities should establish how the alleged shooter obtained the weapons and managed to bring them inside the Ateneo de Zamboanga University Junior High School.
According to Philippines News Agency, initial reports showed that a Grade 9 student entered the campus with a pistol and a rifle and opened fire inside a classroom at around 8:30 a.m., killing another student before taking his own life. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack. Gatchalian strongly condemned the attack and sought a thorough investigation, while asking the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Zamboanga City government to immediately provide psychosocial assistance to distressed students and school personnel.
DepEd has assured psychological first aid for affected learners and school personnel, while President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. directed law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough investigation. Senator Bam Aquino said the shooting was especially painful for parents who expect schools to provide a safe environment for their children.
Senator Risa Hontiveros said investigators should determine whether the incident had any connection to Nihilistic Violent Extremism (NVE) or online communities being examined following the earlier Tacloban school shooting. She mentioned that the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, which she chairs, would continue its inquiry into NVE, online grooming for serious violent activity and other threats to children during a hearing on Thursday.
Senator Joel Villanueva stated that the incident should trigger action on school safety, firearm access, and responsible gun storage, particularly to prevent weapons from reaching minors and unauthorized persons. He emphasized that reforms under the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) also cover student safety, while his proposed SMART Kids Act seeks stronger safeguards against harmful online content.
Senator Francis 'Kiko' Pangilinan highlighted the need for the government and communities to build a stronger 'safety net' around young people by improving school security, mental health services, protection from harmful online content, and controls on firearm ownership. He also warned against normalizing violence in public discourse, urging leaders and influencers to be mindful of their messages.
Senator Mark Villar advocated for stronger school security paired with early threat detection, emergency preparedness, and adequate guidance and psychosocial services. He cited his proposed LIGTAS Act, which seeks a comprehensive safety and security framework for basic education institutions nationwide.
The attack in Zamboanga City came less than two months after the shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, which raised concerns over minors' access to firearms. Following that attack, DepEd ordered schools nationwide to review existing safety guidelines and learner protection measures.
