Rowegie Abanto

The two school shooting incidents involved the use of service firearms, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said, noting that the owners failed to keep their weapons from criminal use. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla clarifies during an ambush interview that he did not block the resource persons invited to the flood control hearing called by the Cayetano bloc's Blue Ribbon Committee on Tuesday, June 4, 2026. Remulla added that he had just come from a meeting with Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian, who asked for assistance to keep the Senate building in order. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

SENATE IMPASSE- DILG REMULLA

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/178711329583220260604-senate-dilg-remulla-MT1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The two school shooting incidents involved the use of service firearms, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said, noting that the owners failed to keep their weapons from criminal use. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATE</strong>) — The chief of the Department of the Interior and Local Government is again calling for stricter gun laws in the Philippines following a school shooting incident in Zamboanga City on Tuesday, the country&#x27;s second in as many months.</p><p>In a news conference on Wednesday, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla called on lawmakers to pass legislation that would penalize gun owners for the &quot;non-safekeeping of their weapons.&quot;</p><p>Two students, including the alleged ninth-grade shooter, were killed in Tuesday&#x27;s attack.</p><p>In June, three teenaged students were killed and 20 others wounded in a gun attack at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, Leyte.</p><p>The two school shooting incidents involved the use of <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/19/ateneo-school-shooter-took-2-guns-from-customs-exec-father-s-car-boc-chief-1016">service</a> <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/6/23/tacloban-school-shooting-planned-shooter-got-gun-from-policewoman-aunt-pnp-0858">firearms</a>, Remulla said, noting that the owners failed to keep their weapons from criminal use.</p><p>&quot;Ang liability ng owner ng gun ay para ka lang nagpahiram ng kotse at &#x27;yung humiram nakasagasa, reckless imprudence. Pumatay ng napakaraming tao pero reckless imprudence lang ang charge sa may-ari ng baril,&quot; Remulla said.</p><p>&quot;Isn&#x27;t the owner of the gun equally responsible?&quot; he also said.</p><p>Remulla said the firearms used in the incident were allegedly left inside a vehicle by the father — a customs police officer — of the alleged student gunman.</p><p>He said it was difficult to understand how a trained uniformed personnel could leave firearms unsecured.</p><p>The student was able to bring the firearms inside the school because he entered the campus aboard his father&#x27;s vehicle and he was no longer subjected to inspection, said Remulla.</p><p>Republic Act No. 10591 or Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act does not impose criminal liability against a person who lets their firearms be used by another individual for crimes, Remulla <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/25/dilg-wants-stronger-gun-law-permanent-gorebox-ban-1214">said in June</a> after the Tacloban school shooting.</p><p>He also urged Congress then to rewrite the implementing rules and regulations of the law to &quot;put a criminal aspect in the illegal use or illegal transfer of their guns.&quot;</p><p>In the press conference, Remulla urged lawmakers to review laws on loose firearms, saying 98 percent of gun crimes were committed with loose or unregistered firearms.</p><p>&quot;Loose, illegal firearms should be non-bailable,&quot; he said.</p><p>Legal gun ownership is tightly regulated in the Southeast Asian country, but a large black market exists for firearms.</p><div> </div><div><strong>STRICTER GUN SAFETY REQUIREMENTS</strong></div><div> </div><p>In a separate statement, the Philippine National Police said it is considering additional gun safety requirements for those applying for or renewing firearms permits.</p><p>PNP chief PGen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the measures will focus on the proper safekeeping of firearms and ammunition.</p><p>The PNP is also looking into making a comprehensive gun safety seminar a requirement not only for those applying for a License to Own and Possess Firearms (LTOPF) and firearm registration, but also for those renewing their permits.</p><p>Nartatez has tasked the PNP Civil Security Group to come up with updated guidelines for the conduct of regular gun safety seminars for registered firearm owners nationwide.</p><p>The PNP said it has also been reviewing existing gun ownership rules and regulations following the school shooting in Tacloban City.</p><p>As part of the review, the PNP said it will coordinate with gun store owners to get their inputs on additional measures aimed at preventing irresponsible gun ownership.</p><p>The PNP, through its Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO), is the agency authorized to issue gun licenses, permits and firearm registrations under Republic Act No. 10591.</p><div><strong>—With a report from Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5yFToGmR7Pk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The chief of the Department of the Interior and Local Government is again calling for stricter gun laws in the Philippines following a school shooting incident in Zamboanga City on Tuesday, the country's second in as many months.</p>

The chief of the Department of the Interior and Local Government is again calling for stricter gun laws in the Philippines following a school shooting incident in Zamboanga City on Tuesday, the country's second in as many months.

DILG calls for stricter gun laws in wake of Ateneo de Zamboanga shooting

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DILG calls for stricter gun laws in wake of Ateneo de Zamboanga shooting

Karen De Guzman,

Rowegie Abanto,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 19, 2026 12:46 PM PHT

|

Updated August 19, 2026 02:54 PM PHT

Read More:

Ateneo de Zamboanga

DILG

School Shooting

Ateneo De Zamboanga University

Zamboanga City

Jonvic Remulla

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