Investigators are looking into the possibility that the target in Tuesday morning’s shooting inside the Ateneo de Zamboanga University (AdZU) Junior High School campus was a teacher and not the Grade 10 student who was killed, Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara said on Wednesday.
Angara, who flew into Zamboanga City on Wednesday morning, said initial accounts suggest that the shooter, a male Grade 8 student (Grade 9 in the earlier police report), was after a teacher, noting that he entered two classrooms but only opened fire in the second.
The Cabinet official clarified, however, that the available information does not yet sufficiently establish ‘who the real target was.’
‘It is better not to make conclusive remarks while evidence remains unclear,’ Angara stressed.
After fatally hitting another student in Room 404, the shooter ran shouting toward the next level and turned the gun on himself. He was carrying two pistols, one of which was issued to his father by the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
The shooter was the son of a BOC security official in the Port of Zamboanga City. Following Tuesday’s incident, the official was ordered relieved of his post by Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno.
Angara condoled with the AdZU community and met with school, police, and local government officials for a case conference on the incident.
He dismissed speculation that the shooter was bullied or depressed, saying the student had a large extended family.
‘This remains mysterious to us – what triggered the incident is still unknown,’ Angara said.
Authorities are also looking at the incident as a possible case of online grooming, or the deliberate manipulation of a minor by an adult via technology or the internet with an intention to harm or abuse.
‘We cannot rule out the role of online groomers. Sometimes they poison the minds of our youth. These nihilistic violent groups exploit disenchanted youth, pushing them further into anger,’ Angara explained.
He urged parents to monitor their children’s online interactions as closely as they would in public spaces.
‘Parents should check on their children, give them time, and be aware of harmful influences, especially online. Schools, parents, PTAs (Parents and Teachers Associations), and communities must work together to confront this problem,’ he said.
The Department of Education has been hiring school counselor associates to provide immediate support to students with emotional and mental conditions.
While they are not full-fledged guidance counselors, Angara said, they are trained to handle cases of depression and provide counseling to affected students.
A city in grief
A pall of gloom gripped Zamboanga City as locals grappled with the violence that rocked the elite Jesuit-run school. The local government suspended classes in all levels on Wednesday for a ‘Day of Mourning.’
In a statement, Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso said Aug. 18 was ‘a very, very sad and tragic day for Zamboanga City.’
‘The City Government of Zamboanga mourns with profound sadness the tragic loss of two young lives. We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families, loved ones, classmates, teachers, and the entire school community. Our hearts are with you in this time of unimaginable grief,’ Olaso said.
The mayor appealed to residents to ‘grieve, pray, and reflect on the collective responsibility to protect children and uphold the sanctity of life.’
In other parts of Mindanao, several schools expressed solidarity with AdZU, some either suspending classes or initiating a review of their security protocols.
In South Cotabato, the premier state-run Philippine Science High School Soccsksargen Region campus in Koronadal City canceled classes on Wednesday until Thursday and shifted to online learning.
The in-person class suspension will give the management time to assess and strengthen security measures, the school said in a public advisory.
‘We appeal to parents and guardians for strong family support and active parental presence. Your encouragement, guidance, and open communication help our learners stay focused, resilient, and emotionally secure, especially during challenging times,’ it said.
Other schools get stricter
In Cotabato City, the Cotabato State University started barring the entry of vehicles and motorcycles driven by students, and also kept the back gate of the campus closed.
The Sultan Kudarat State University in Barangay EJC Montilla, Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat, also imposed tighter security measures on its main campus and branches across the province.
In Cagayan de Oro City, the Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan and Pilgrim Christian College announced similar precautions.
In Davao City, the Al Qalam Institute for Islamic Identities and Dialogue in Southeast Asia, which is hosted by Ateneo de Davao University, also expressed deep sorrow and solidarity with the AdZU community.
The institute joined Ateneo de Davao University in mourning, while urging the public to exercise empathy and restraint.
Social media ban
The AdZU incident also revived calls to have children under 13 barred from social media.
In a message to the Inquirer, Talino at Galing ng Pinoy Rep. Jose Teves Jr. said his House Bill No. 10551, which was filed on Aug. 4, is now with the committee on the welfare of children.
Teves’ draft Children’s Social Media Safety Act requires minors aged 13 to 17 to have parental or guardian supervision when using social media.
It also requires social media platforms to adopt measures to verify users’ ages or identities