BOC suspends port exec amid child's alleged involvement in Zamboanga school shooting

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Tuesday relieved its Enforcement and Security Services (ESS) District Commander in the Zamboanga Port, who is the father of the student allegedly involved in a shooting incident in a private school.

This was confirmed by Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno.

“He is the father of the alleged shooter. I have to relieve him from his position immediately to allow an impartial investigation on this tragedy,” Nepomuceno told GMA News Online.

The BOC said in a statement, “Upon learning of the incident, Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno immediately ordered the relief and preventive suspension of the Customs police personnel who owns the firearms allegedly used by the student involved, pending the results of a thorough investigation.”

In a message to GMA News Online, Nepomuceno said that a "small firearm" used in the incident was issued to the employee, while the long firearm was a personal gun.

Bendijo said their employee will undergo investigation to determine his possible accountability in the incident.

Meanwhile, the BOC declined to provide further information.

Earlier, Zamboanga City Mayor Khymer Olaso reported that two students died, one of them the alleged shooter, following the shooting incident at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University.

In a statement, the BOC said Nepomuceno has directed the deputy commissioners to conduct a full investigation.

“The Bureau has also instructed all concerned personnel to fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation by the proper authorities,” it said.

Nepomuceno also ordered an accounting and inventory of all issued firearms across the bureau as well as a review of compliance with the BOC’s policies and issuance on gun safety, firearm custody, transport, carrying, storage, and safekeeping.

The BOC said compliance reports are required within 24 hours.

“The Bureau of Customs remains committed to accountability, transparency, and ensuring that all necessary measures are undertaken to prevent incidents of this nature from happening again,” it said.

Meanwhile, the bureau extended its deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims.—Joahna Lei Casilao/AOL/BAP, GMA News