Ateneo de Zamboanga doing active shooter drills before tragedy

The Ateneo de Zamboanga University was in the process of conducting active shooter drills before the suspect opened fire on students and teachers, according to Zamboanga Vice Mayor Isabelle "Beng" Climaco.

Speaking on Dobol Weng sa Dobol B, Climaco extended the local government unit’s condolences to the families affected. She said that the government still cannot provide specific details on how the gun was brought into the school, as they were still waiting for the police investigation.

However, she said that the school was already fortifying security following the Tacloban shooting.

“Ang eskwelahan, after the incidents that transpired in Tacloban, have been conducting their SIMEX, yung simulation exercises, na inumpisahan na sa kanilang elementary campus, which is also in the campus of the senior high school. And yung senior high school was preparing for the simulation exercise,” Climaco said.

(The school, after the incidents that transpired in Tacloban, has been conducting its SIMEX, the simulation exercises, that started in the elementary campus, which is also the campus of the senior high school. And the senior high school was preparing for the simulation exercise.)

“Kaya kanina, akala nila that was already the simulation exercise that happened,” she said. (So earlier, they thought that it was already the simulation exercise that happened.)

However, first responders were quick to the scene, including medical personnel.

Climaco said the shooter drills was originally scheduled in September.

The local government is already in contact with the suspect’s parents. According to Climaco, the suspect’s parents also want a thorough investigation.

“In the end, when we were bringing the remains to the vehicle, we could not help but ask the question: why? Bakit niya nagawa ito at ano yung motibo? (Why did he do this and what was the motive?)” Climaco said.

At least two deaths were reported in the shooting incident: a student and then the suspect himself. The suspect had pulled the trigger on himself. —Jean Mangaluz/LDF, GMA News