Jamaine Punzalan

Police gather at Ateneo de Zamboanga University following a shooting at the school in Zamboanga on August 18, 2026. Gabriel Vince Pallalos, AFP

Article (news)

Jervis Manahan

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/178712669218120260818-school-shooting-ateneo-zamboanga-AFP-2 (2).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Police gather at Ateneo de Zamboanga University following a shooting at the school in Zamboanga on August 18, 2026. Gabriel Vince Pallalos, AFP </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Department of Education will lead a nationwide school safety drill on August 25 following the fatal shooting incidents in Tacloban and <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/8/18/shooting-incident-reported-inside-zamboanga-city-school-0934">Zamboanga</a>.</p><p>This is part of the strengthened security measures aimed to curb violence in schools.</p><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><p>&quot;Ngayong nagkaroon ng panibagong insidente sa Zamboanga kahapon, patuloy nating nire-review ang security situation at mga existing measures sa mga paaralan, lalo na kung may kailangan dagdagan o ayusin,&quot; Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said on Wednesday.</p><p>&quot;Patungkol naman sa copycat, tungkol naman sa posibilidad ng copycat threats, hindi tayo dapat magbigay ng konklusyon hangga’t wala tayong validated information  kung may report ang isang particular o credible na banta, agad natin itong iba-validate at i-assess ang ating mga kapulisan, kasama ang mga concerned agencies,&quot; she added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/8/18/what-we-know-so-far-about-the-ateneo-de-zamboanga-shooting-suspect-1214">What we know so far about the Ateneo de Zamboanga shooting suspect </a></div><p>The Palace said the government has funding that schools could use for security operations.</p><p>&quot;For public schools provision for security services are generally lodge under their maintenance and other operating  expenses, MOOE and regular programs  rather than presented as single, separate budget item labelled school security,&quot; Castro told reporters.</p><p>&quot;So maasahan po na mayroon pong ilalaan  na pondo para sa mas pinaigting na seguridad sa ating mga kabataan lalung-lalo na sa mga eskuwelahan,&quot; she added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/18/gun-issued-to-customs-officer-used-in-ateneo-de-zamboanga-shooting-1606">Gun issued to Customs officer used in Ateneo de Zamboanga shooting </a></div><p>The PCO appealed to media agencies to be more sensitive when reporting about school shootings, saying reporting must uphold dignity, safety, and privacy of minors.</p><p>&quot;May nakapagsabi na rin na dapat din tayong maging maingat sa paglalahad  at baka nga  pamarisan, dahil isipin ng mga kabataan na sa ganoong edad ay wala namang maaaring makulong. Hindi po kasi ito ang dapat  na talagang naituturo natin sa ating mga kabataan,&quot; Castro said.</p><p>&quot;Ang dapat nating itinuturo ay ang tamang pag-uugali, paano igalang ang ating mga kapwa at kung paano makitungo sa ating mga kaklase, sa ating mga guro, sa mga elders,&quot; she added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/19/dilg-again-calls-for-stricter-gun-laws-in-wake-of-another-school-shooting-1246">DILG calls for stricter gun laws in wake of Ateneo de Zamboanga shooting </a><br/><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">Zamboanga school shooter took 2 guns from Customs exec father’s car–BOC chief </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/8/19/ateneo-de-davao-on-heightened-alert-after-deadly-shooting-in-zambo-campus-1601">Ateneo de Davao on heightened alert after deadly shooting in Zamboanga campus </a></div><div><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/j_mDK_UNbPs?&amp;pp=0gcJCRMMAYcqIYzv&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Department of Education will lead a nationwide school safety drill on August 25 following the fatal shooting incidents in Tacloban and Zamboanga.</p>

The Department of Education will lead a nationwide school safety drill on August 25 following the fatal shooting incidents in Tacloban and Zamboanga.

Nationwide school safety drill set on Aug. 25

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Nationwide school safety drill set on Aug. 25

Jervis Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 19, 2026 04:16 PM PHT

Read More:

school

Violence

DepEd

Safety Drill

school shooting

Ateneo de Zamboanga shooting

Ateneo de Zamboanga

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