Ateneo de Zamboanga shooter brought guns in father's car, bypassing school security — DILG

The shooter in the fatal Ateneo de Zamboanga University shooting was able to bring firearms into the school after arriving in his father’s car and bypassing the security check, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Wednesday.

In a press conference, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said only people entering through the school's pedestrian gate are subjected to bag inspections.

“Ateneo de Zamboanga had 25 security guards, with 15 on duty that morning and 10 on duty that night. The system at Ateneo is that if you enter through the pedestrian gate, your bag is inspected,” he said.

“The student rode in his father’s car, who drove him to school, so he was no longer subjected to a frisk or security check. Since he arrived by car, he was not inspected. The student proceeded directly, got off at the basement and went straight upstairs,” he added.

The firearms were not detected because the student was not subjected to a bag or security check when he entered the campus in a car, the DILG chief said.

Remulla said the incident has prompted authorities to review existing school security protocols.

The DILG chief also questioned the account of the shooter’s father, who owns the guns used in the shooting, on how his son was able to obtain the firearms.

“The owner of the gun, the shooter’s father, said that he had simply left his gun bag in the car, and that the student took the firearms from there,” Remulla said.

He said it was highly unlikely that the shooter’s father, a police officer, would leave his firearms unattended in his car, noting that gun safety and safekeeping are part of every police officer’s training.

"All the police officers here beside me treat their firearms like their wives. They don’t leave them behind. They always carry them,” he added.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said investigators recovered two firearms—a Glock 9mm and a Glock .40 caliber—allegedly used in the shooting.

At least seven shots were fired, based on the initial examination of the recovered evidence, according to PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.

“A large amount of ammunition intended for Glock .40-caliber and Glock 9mm firearms was recovered. If we’re talking about live ammunition, there were two 9mm rounds and five .40-caliber rounds, meaning they were unfired," he said.

"As for the fired cartridges, there were four for the 9mm and three for the .40 caliber. If you’re asking how many rounds were fired from the firearms, there were seven,” Nartatez added.

Meanwhile, Remulla called on Congress to strengthen laws that would hold gun owners accountable when their firearms are not properly secured and are later used to commit crimes.

He said gun owners, including uniformed personnel, should face penalties if someone uses their firearms to kill or injure others.

Remulla noted that existing penalties may amount only to reckless imprudence.

The DILG chief also called for the repeal of the law that made illegal firearm possession a bailable offense, saying possession of loose firearms should once again be non-bailable.

“What I am asking Congress to do is repeal the Robin Padilla law and make possession of loose firearms non-bailable again,” Remulla said, referring to Republic Act No. 8294, which amended the penalties for illegal possession of firearms.

He further called for penalties against dismissed police and military personnel who continue to possess firearms or use their former uniforms to impersonate law enforcement officers.

Meanwhile, Remulla raised the possibility that the shooter intended to livestream the shooting to an online audience.

The shooting also appeared to have been carried out in a manner resembling a first-person shooter video game, with a recording device attached to the student’s chest, according to Remulla.

He said investigators have a high degree of confidence that Roblox may have served as an avenue for the student’s radicalization, although he stressed that forensic examination of the student’s gadgets is still ongoing.

He clarified that Roblox itself is not inherently dangerous but pointed out that chat groups connected to gaming platforms could expose young users to harmful influences.—

Authorities have yet to establish the student’s motive and are also examining possible factors involving his academic performance, mental state and any possible bullying.

Remulla also said the DILG is coordinating with the Department of Education (DepEd) on additional security measures in schools.

He said the DILG wants barangay tanods to be allowed to establish a presence inside schools because they are familiar with local students and communities and could help identify and address problems early.— MCG, GMA News