Fatal Attack at Ateneo de Zamboanga
A Grade 9 student shot to death a fellow student and then killed himself on Tuesday at a high school campus in the southern Philippine city of Zamboanga, in what police and other officials said was the second fatal school shooting in the country in two months.
The suspect, identified by police as Mohammad Mael Jalani, carried two pistols during the attack and livestreamed it using a body-worn camera, according to police and other officials. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla told reporters that the suspect "entered and started indiscriminately firing, hitting a Grade 10 student at the fourth floor then subsequently went to the fifth floor and jumped from the said building and committed suicide."
A police initial report said Jalani fired at a teacher sitting in front of a class but apparently missed, then shot a student on the fourth floor before going up one floor. Zamboanga city Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso said the suspect shot himself, but Remulla's account described him jumping from the building.
The attack occurred at the high school building of Ateneo de Zamboanga university campus, a secured campus separate from the larger campus of the privately owned Catholic university. Hundreds of students were evacuated after shots rang out, and two other people were injured, police and city officials said.
Ateneo suspended classes at all levels Tuesday and Wednesday following the attack.
A parent, Joe Darryl Jaron, had just driven his child to the school when he heard gunshots that prompted students to scream in panic and dash to safety. He took video of the commotion and posted on Facebook, saying, "There are gunshots here in Ateneo, help! help!" A few hours after the shooting, police said the situation was under control and asked parents to follow the school's arrangements to pick up their children.
National police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said authorities are establishing the circumstances surrounding the incident and appealed to the public to refrain from sharing unconfirmed reports.
Allegations Against Firearms Custodian
The suspect's father, who was the Bureau of Customs police commander in Zamboanga, came under scrutiny after one of the pistols carried by the suspect was traced to him. Deputy Commissioner Nolasco Bathan, who reported the father's connection, recommended the temporary suspension of the father, who may face administrative charges for failing to safeguard the government-issued pistol.
Context and Recent School Shootings in the Philippines
The Zamboanga shooting happened less than two weeks after a school shooting in Thailand, where a 14-year-old boy The Thai incident prompted the Prime Minister to take steps to restrict guns. Thailand's high rate of gun ownership is second only to Pakistan in Asia.
In June, three high school students were killed and at least 20 others wounded in a shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City. Police arrested two students, ages 14 and 15, and accused them of carrying out the Tacloban school shooting. After that incident, Philippine authorities temporarily blocked the online gaming app Gorebox to assess its role in fostering violence.
The Zamboanga shooting was livestreamed through the shooter's Facebook account and another website, according to Interior Secretary Jonvilla Remulla.
Crimes involving firearms are prevalent in the Philippines, partly due to unlicensed firearms, but school shootings are relatively rare.
Cebu Student Found with Firearm
Separately, a firearm was found inside the school bag of a Grade 9 student in Pinamungajan, Cebu, and Philippine National Police Chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the firearm was allegedly owned by the student's grandfather. The firearm was discovered during a school bag inspection on August 20, and school officials coordinated with police. It was recovered without ammunition and is now under police custody.
Nartatez said authorities are verifying ownership of the firearm, and "if established, appropriate accountability will be determined in accordance with existing laws." The minor was turned over to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office under the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act (Republic Act No. 9344). The student's guardian and concerned barangay officials were also coordinated with. Nartatez was prohibited from sharing the details.
He also reminded parents, guardians, and firearm custodians to keep guns properly secured and inaccessible to children and other authorized persons.
Nationwide School Safety Drill
The Department of Education (DepEd) has ordered a nationwide school safety drill on August 25. Education Secretary Sonny Angara is scheduled to join the activity at Carlos F. Gonzales at a high school in Bulacan.
The directive, issued on August 12, requires schools to conduct the drill simultaneously at 9 a.m., with each regional office designating one school as the ceremonial venue. Other schools are strongly encouraged to conduct drills on the same day or on an adjusted schedule; schools unable to hold the drill must notify their division Disaster Risk Management coordinator.
The police chief instructed the school personnel in Cebu, saying, "The PNP appreciates the vigilance of the school personnel and their prompt coordination with authorities," and urged communities to coordinate with authorities when safety concerns arise.