Jonathan Frederic De Santos

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. leads the inauguration of the country’s first interactive Energy Museum to mark the 25th-anniversary commemoration of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) at the Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Center in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City on July 29, 2026. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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ABS-CBN News

MANILA (UPDATED) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into the shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga in Zamboanga City that left two students, including the alleged shooter, dead.In a statement on Tuesday afternoon, the president said the administration grieves with the families and with the school community as he stressed that campuses should be &quot;among the safest places in our country.&quot;He said agencies have been tasked with investigating the incident &quot;and to determine what more must be done to prevent another family, another school and another community from suffering the same grief.&quot;<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/8/18/shooting-incident-reported-inside-zamboanga-city-school-0934">Two dead in Ateneo de Zamboanga shooting </a></div>Marcos Jr. said the government will work with schools and communities for stronger safeguards for learners.The Department of Education earlier said it was working with mental health professionals to help provide psychological first aid and psychosocial support for students and staff of the private school affected by the incident.DepEd had already been <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/5/deped-eyes-more-guards-in-big-public-schools-metal-detectors-amid-campus-violence-1604">reviewing and strengthening campus security </a>after a shooting at a Tacloban City public school and a perceived increase in violent incidents in schools.The Tacloban City shooting revived talk of lowering the age that minors can be charged for crimes and imprisoned alongside calls for more funding for full implementation of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act for children in conflict with the law.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/1/cicc-many-school-shootings-connected-to-nihilistic-violent-extremist-groups-1711">CICC: Many school shootings connected to nihilistic violent extremist groups</a></div><div> </div><div>FAITH, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES</div>Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said he was praying for the victims and all affected by shooting.He said society must &quot;work together to raise a generation grounded in faith, respect for life, compassion for others, and the courage to choose what is right in every situation.&quot;Cayetano also mentioned his Filipino Identity in Values bill, which would mandate the integration of a &quot;faith-based and values-oriented developmental program&quot; in school curricula.Sen. Francis Pangilinan meanwhile called for more funding for guidance counselors, psychologists and mental health services for young Filipinos and stricter regulations on gun ownership.He also called on political leaders and other people with influence to refrain from normalizing violence.&quot;Delikado ang mensaheng ipinapaabot nito sa mga kabataang natututo pa lang kontrolin o i-manage ang nararamdamang galit, lungkot, o anumang pinagdaraanan,&quot; he said.(These send a dangerous message to the youth who are only just learning to control or manage their feelings of anger, sadness or whatever they are going through.)

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into the shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga in Zamboanga City that left two students, including the alleged shooter, dead.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into the shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga in Zamboanga City that left two students, including the alleged shooter, dead.

Marcos Jr. orders thorough probe into Zamboanga City school shooting

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Marcos Jr. orders thorough probe into Zamboanga City school shooting

ABS-CBN News

Published August 18, 2026 12:58 PM PHT

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Updated August 18, 2026 03:57 PM PHT

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Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Ateneo de Zamboanga

Zamboanga City

School shooting

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