At least two people have been killed in a school shooting, including the teenage gunman, sending shock waves through the Philippine education system and renewing concerns about school safety. On August 18, at a high school on Ateneo de Zamboanga University campus in Zamboanga City, a student who allegedly brought firearms to the school opened fire inside a classroom and took his own life.
According to initial police reports, the suspect was a Grade 9 student who came in with a pistol and a rifle. Investigators said the teen targeted a fellow student who was fatally shot during the attack. After the shooting, the suspect turned the gun on himself, they said. Both the victim and gunman were killed, although others might have been injured in the chaos that followed the attack.
Students and staff rushed for safety from the school campus as hundreds of people were evacuated and police officers, emergency workers, and security personnel were rushed to the school. Students stood outside the school gates as schools were locked down and worried parents rushed out. Crime scene investigators were inside the campus to collect evidence and start the investigation.
Zamboanga City Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso said that early reports suggested the suspect may have attempted to livestream the attack using a body camera. Police investigators are examining digital evidence and reviewing the online activities of the suspect as they investigate, Olaso said. Public safety officials have asked the public not to spread unverified information on social media for now as they seek a clear timeline and determine a possible motive for the shooting.
It is the second major school shooting incident in the Philippines in two months. In June, a separate attack at a public high school in Tacloban City killed three students and injured about 20 after two 17-year-old students opened fire on campus. What happened in the Philippines has also put national attention on school security, bullying and access to firearms, and the effects of violent online content on young people in the country.
School shootings are relatively rare in the Philippines compared to many other countries. The country has strict gun ownership laws that require background checks and psychological evaluations. But authorities are still struggling to control the flow of illegal firearms that are still available in some areas. Security experts have warned that recent incidents could push education systems to better prepare for disasters and prepare their staff and students in the future.
The university expressed sorrow for the loss of life and stressed that student safety is the number one priority. Counselling and support services are anticipated for students, teachers, and families of the victim in the wake of the incident. A tragedy as serious as this is to the community; we’re mourning a tragedy so serious we’re wondering if schools should always be safe spaces for young people to learn.
