Police and forensic personnel investigate the scene of the shooting at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University campus in Zamboanga City on Tuesday, August 18, as authorities trace the firearms used and examine possible security lapses. Photo courtesy of PNP.
Police are tracing the firearms used in the deadly Ateneo de Zamboanga University shooting as investigators seek to determine how the weapons made it past school security.
Initial police findings identified the suspected shooter as a Grade 9 student. A Grade 10 student was also killed in the attack. Authorities withheld their identities because both were minors.
A key focus of the investigation is the firearms themselves. Police were verifying their ownership and legal status, as well as how they were brought onto the campus before Tuesday morning’s attack.
Responding officers secured the school following the shooting, while forensic personnel examined the scene and collected evidence that could help reconstruct what happened.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez ordered investigators to follow the evidence while ensuring that the rights and welfare of the students and their families were protected.
“Ang prayoridad natin ngayon ay maayos nating malaman ang buong pangyayari at mapanatiling maingat ang ating imbestigasyon. We will follow the facts, coordinate with the concerned authorities, and respect the privacy of the students and their families. Let us allow the proper process to take its course,” Nartatez said.
The probe also puts campus security under scrutiny as authorities examine whether safeguards failed and what circumstances allowed firearms to reach school grounds.
Police urged the public to avoid circulating unverified claims, graphic footage and identifying information involving the minors as investigators work to establish the full circumstances behind the shooting.