Jamaine Punzalan

Police gather at a school following a shooting in Zamboanga on August 18, 2026. A student was shot dead at a high school in the southern Philippines on August 18 before the alleged killer took his own life, police said. Roel Parreno, AFP

Article (news)

Karen De Guzman

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1787040219694AFP__20260818__C4W27KE__v2__MidRes__PhilippinesSchoolSchooting.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Police gather at a school following a shooting in Zamboanga on August 18, 2026. A student was shot dead at a high school in the southern Philippines on August 18 before the alleged killer took his own life, police said. Roel Parreno, AFP</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — The Bureau of Customs confirmed that one of the two firearms used by a student who opened fire at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University was a government-issued firearm assigned to his father, a Customs police officer.</p><p>BOC Deputy Commissioner for the Enforcement Group Nolasco Bathan said the firearm was a Glock issued by the agency.</p><p>&quot;‘Yung baril na nagamit ay kino-confirm ko na BOC-issued firearm ‘yun, ‘yung Glock. Tapos ‘yung isa ay personal firearm niya pero licensed, as per verification, certification from the Firearms Explosives Office ng PNP,&quot; Bathan said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/8/18/shooting-incident-reported-inside-zamboanga-city-school-0934">READ: Two dead in Ateneo de Zamboanga shooting</a></div><p>Bathan said he has yet to speak with the Customs police officer following the incident.</p><p>He said he immediately recommended to the BOC commissioner that another officer be designated as officer-in-charge of the Port of Zamboanga, given the sensitive nature of the father&#x27;s position as commander of the BOC police unit there.</p><p>The BOC will also investigate how the firearm ended up in the hands of the officer&#x27;s son.</p><p>&quot;Kailangang maliwanagan tayo pare-parehas kasi ito naman bago natin i-dispatch, bago natin bigyan ng acknowledgement receipt at saka letter order, talaga bini-briefing natin,&quot; Bathan said. </p><p>&quot;Hindi tayo basta-basta nagbibigay or nag-iissue ng firearms without proper education to these people saka considering uniformed service din sila dito sa BOC, may proper training naman ang mga ito,&quot; he added. </p><p>Meanwhile, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the government should review existing laws on legal and illegal firearms, particularly the accountability of gun owners when their firearms are used in violence.</p><p>&quot;We have to review the law regarding legal and illegal firearms. There has to be liability in the use of both in violence,&quot; Remulla told ABS-CBN News. </p><p>&quot;It appears that the shooter used legally issued firearms from the father. The owner of the gun should be accountable for the illegal use,&quot; he added. </p><p>The DILG chief also emphasized that gun ownership comes with the responsibility of ensuring that firearms are properly secured.</p><p>&quot;Gun ownership is a privilege accorded to those who need to protect themselves. But that privilege carries with it not only the responsibility of ownership, but the responsibility of safekeeping. One cannot exist without the other,&quot; Remulla said.</p><p>He said the government would take steps to prevent similar tragedies and ensure the safety of students and the public.</p><div><br/></div><div><em></em><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong><em></em><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MhtAgr9NxDE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IYlO97VavRg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Bureau of Customs confirmed that one of two firearms used by a student who opened fire at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University was issued to the pupil’s father who is a Customs police officer.</p>

The Bureau of Customs confirmed that one of two firearms used by a student who opened fire at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University was issued to the pupil’s father who is a Customs police officer.

Gun issued to Customs officer used in Ateneo de Zamboanga shooting

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Gun issued to Customs officer used in Ateneo de Zamboanga shooting

Karen De Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 18, 2026 04:06 PM PHT

|

Updated August 19, 2026 10:04 AM PHT

Read More:

Ateneo

Ateneo shooting

Ateneo De Zamboanga

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