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)

Bianca Dava

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/1787298989454AFP__20260818__C4WH8WF__v1__MidRes__PhilippinesSchoolShooting.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 — For Barangay Tumaga Chairwoman Jacqueline Lim, the Ateneo de Zamboanga University (AdZU) shooting was not only a tragedy in the community she leads—it was a frightening experience for her own family.</p><p>Four of Lim’s grandchildren study at AdZU, including a Grade 8 student who was among those who heard the gunshots during Tuesday’s attack.</p><p>According to Lim, her grandchild no longer wants to return to school.</p><p>“Pati ako umiyak nang umiyak ang mga apo ko. That night, pumunta ako sa kanila, tapos hinawakan ko sila at kinumusta ko ang mga apo ko. Alam kong na-trauma talaga ang mga bata,” she told ABS-CBN News on Friday.</p><p>“I don’t want to go back to school anymore, Ama,” Lim recalled her grandchild telling her.</p><p>Another grandchild, a Grade 10 student whose classroom was only a room away from where the shooting happened, also struggles to cope with the incident.</p><p>Lim said the child did not want to eat or sleep in his own room and stayed inside the following day, trying to process what had happened.</p><p>“Narinig talaga nila ang mga putok. Hindi sila sanay sa mga ganyang putok, lalo baril na. Hindi sanay ang mga bata. They were not expecting to happen,” she said.</p><div><strong>GRADUAL RETURN, PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT</strong></div><p>Lim welcomed <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/21/adzu-classes-suspended-until-next-week-to-implement-gradual-return-1423">AdZU’s planned gradual return to classes</a>, saying the break would give students time to rest and recover before returning to the campus.</p><p>AdZU President Fr. Guillrey Anthony “Ernald” Andal, SJ, on Thursday said <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/21/adzu-classes-suspended-until-next-week-to-implement-gradual-return-1423">classes would remain suspended from August 24 to 28.</a></p><p>From September 1 to 4, students will participate in non-academic activities through an alternative learning modality focused on emotional well-being, reconnection and readiness to return to school, he added.</p><p>“Bigyan talaga sila [children] ng time, kausapin sila, and let them understand kung ano ang nangyari,” Lim said, urging parents to be patient with children who may still be processing the incident.</p><p>She also encouraged parents to spend more time with their children, monitor their gadgets and online activities, and maintain open communication.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/21/cardinal-advincula-urges-culture-of-care-after-zamboanga-school-shooting-1525">Cardinal Advincula urges ‘culture of care’ after Zamboanga school shooting </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/21/pnp-to-mobilize-personnel-resources-for-nationwide-school-safety-drills-1235">PNP to mobilize personnel, resources for nationwide school safety drills </a></div><div><strong>BARANGAY TO BOOST SCHOOL SECURITY, CCTV MONITORING</strong></div><p>As barangay chairperson, Lim said Barangay Tumaga will also strengthen security around schools in the area following the shooting.</p><p>Barangay peace officers and members of the Barangay Information Network (BIN) will be added to security efforts around schools, including Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Tumaga National High School, and Tumaga Elementary School.</p><p>The barangay will also coordinate with Ateneo administrators on traffic management.</p><p>“We will talk with the administrator of the Ateneo de Zamboanga para ma-ano namin &#x27;yung traffic—kasi isa rin ang problema namin dito is traffic—para magiging maganda ang flow in case, God forbid, may mangyari,” Lim said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/8/21/zamboanga-police-monitoring-social-media-for-school-threats-after-ateneo-shooting-1520">Zamboanga police monitoring social media for school threats after Ateneo shooting </a></div><p>Lim added that the barangay continues to expand its CCTV coverage, particularly along major roads.</p><p>“Nagpapatuloy pa tayo to expand our CCTV cameras, especially going to Ateneo and other barangay roads,” she said.</p><p>The measures are intended to improve monitoring around schools and help ensure faster response during emergencies.</p><p>The AdZU Junior High School shooting left two students dead, including the alleged shooter. A 15-year-old Grade 10 student was also wounded and is now in stable condition.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/8/21/how-do-teenagers-keep-accessing-guns-in-southeast-asia-1005">How do teenagers keep accessing guns in Southeast Asia? </a><br/><a href="http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/news/regions/2026/8/19/pnp-records-50-school-related-incidents-involving-cicls-since-june-1600">PNP records 50 school-related incidents involving CICLs since June </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/zRfT9K9fm6Y?&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="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u6ICdW-s0vo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The AdZU Junior High School shooting left two students dead, including the alleged shooter.</p>

The AdZU Junior High School shooting left two students dead, including the alleged shooter.

‘I don’t want to go back to school’: Ateneo de Zamboanga shooting haunts some students

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‘I don’t want to go back to school’: Ateneo de Zamboanga shooting haunts some students

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 21, 2026 04:01 PM PHT

|

Updated August 21, 2026 05:30 PM PHT

Read More:

Ateneo de Zamboanga University

shooting

Zamboanga City

schools

trauma

grandchildren

students

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