LIVE UPDATES: Ateneo de Zamboanga shooting incident (August 20, 2026)

The Police Regional Office 9 (PRO9) on Thursday warned the public against sharing unverified social media accounts and posts allegedly linked to the Ateneo de Zamboanga University shooter and his family.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, PRO9 spokesperson Police Major Shellamie Chang said authorities have received various information, videos, and social media posts related to the incident.

“Ang reminders lang po namin sa public is, huwag po tayo basta-basta maniniwala. Kami po sa PNP, tinitingnan po namin yan pero vine-verify at vina-validate namin yan,” she said.

(It's just a reminder to the public, let's not just believe it. We in the PNP; we are looking at it, but we are verifying and validating it.)

The student linked to the fatal shooting at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University entered the junior high school building through a ramp normally reserved for persons with disabilities, allowing him to bypass the building’s regular security checkpoints, a school official told a Senate hearing Thursday.

Armee Jay Cresmundo, executive assistant to the university president and legal adviser, said the ramp was typically kept closed and opened only when needed by students with disabilities or those carrying heavy items.

“At that time, the ramp was open because a student will pass through. And unfortunately, ito po 'yung ginawang access point para po makalusot po dun po sa security na meron in the building itself,” Cresmundo said.

(At that time, the ramp was open because a student was going to pass through. Unfortunately, this was used as an access point to get past the security inside the building.)

Authorities are looking into possibility that unscrupulous individuals are targeting and "mentoring" children who play violent video games, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said Thursday.

"We're confirming information na mentor, alam niyo 'yung mine-mentor 'yung mga bata, 'yung mga bata na may nag-e-engage sa kanila. Tine-text sila. Tapos parang meron silang kino-consult na okay ba itong ginawa ko, ano ba itong gagawin ko," he said in an ambush interview.

(We're confirming information that there are mentors—, you know, someone who mentors and engages with the children. The kids are being sent text messages. Then it seems they consult this person, asking, "Is what I did okay? What should I do?")

The student who was wounded in the shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University remains hospitalized but is now in stable condition, according to the Police Regional Office 9 (PRO-9) on Thursday.

PRO-9 spokesperson Police Major Shellamie Chang said the student was grazed by a bullet in the back during the incident.

“Meron po tayong isang injured. Pero, nasa stable condition na po yung injured natin. Nadaplisan lang po siya ng bala sa likod. Undergoing po siya ng medication pa rin ngayon sa hospital,” Chang said.

(We have one injured person. However, the injured individual is now in stable condition. The student was grazed by a bullet in the back. The student is still receiving medical treatment at the hospital.)

Meanwhile, another student who reportedly collapsed during the shooting has already recovered.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has intensified its cyberpatrol operations to take down photos and videos related to the fatal shooting incident at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University.

In a statement on Wednesday evening, PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. directed the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) to strengthen coordination with social media platforms in the country.

“This is an unfortunate incident that should be treated with utmost sensitivity, especially that there were minors involved in the content. Let us all be compassionate over this tragedy and it starts by showing respect and becoming responsible netizens,” Nartatez said.

“We appeal to everyone to refrain from sharing or reposting the videos and photos of the incident. These materials can cause further distress to the victims, their families and the public, and may also interfere with the ongoing investigation,” he added.

Reports that the Grade 8 student, who opened fire at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University (AdZU), had previously threatened to “shoot the school” remain unverified, a school official said Thursday.

During a Senate hearing on the school shooting, Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality chairperson Sen. Risa Hontiveros asked AdZU Board of Trustees chairperson Pedro Soliven about possible warning signs in the student’s behavior.

Hontiveros cited reports that some of the student’s classmates had allegedly heard him make threats to shoot the school.

Soliven said the school could not yet confirm the reports, noting that the incident remains under investigation.