Rowegie Abanto

Police gather at Ateneo de Zamboanga University following a shooting at the school in Zamboanga on August 18, 2026. A student livestreamed himself shooting another schoolmate dead before taking his own life at a high school in the Philippines on August 18, authorities said. 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/178729621705420260818-school-shooting-ateneo-zamboanga-AFP-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. <em>Gabriel Vince Pallalos, AFP</em></span></span></span></div><p>ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Zamboanga police is monitoring social media for alleged threats to schools following the deadly shooting incident at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University on Tuesday.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/8/20/dilg-zamboanga-school-shooter-exploited-gap-to-carry-out-attack-1329">DILG: Zamboanga school shooter exploited &#x27;gap&#x27; to carry out attack</a></div><p>The Police Regional Office 9 is coordinating with schools and the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group to evaluate alleged threats made on social media, said spokesperson P/Maj. Shellamie Chang.</p><p>A student allegedly posted a threat on social media but reportedly claimed the post was only a joke, she said.</p><p>&quot;Kung makikita n&#x27;yo &#x27;yung extent ng ginawa niyang joke, hindi maganda,&quot; Chang said.</p><p>Experts have warned of a<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2026/8/19/school-shooting-psychiatrist-warns-of-copycat-risk-lists-possible-warning-signs-1155"> possible copycat effect following the Zamboanga school shooting</a>, saying authorities and families should look beyond video games and mental health conditions and examine warning signs.</p><p>The police urged students who receive or encounter posts laced with threats to immediately report them to authorities.</p><p>The Zamboanga police will strengthen police visibility at schools, Chang said, adding personnel were already deployed to both public and private schools in the region even before Tuesday&#x27;s incident.</p><p>She said the local government unit and members of the community would be tapped by law enforcement to keep schools safe.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/21/adzu-classes-suspended-until-next-week-to-implement-gradual-return-1423">AdZU classes suspended until next week, to implement gradual return</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>EMERGENCY EXITS UNDER REVIEW</strong></div><div> </div><p>The police are also reviewing the security of emergency exits and other access points following the Ateneo de Zamboanga school shooting, Chang said.</p><p>She encouraged schools to review their security protocols to ensure that every entrance and exit points are properly secured.</p><p>Chang said that the police were coordinating with Ateneo&#x27;s security officer, aside from the security agency hired by the university, to discuss safety issues.</p><p>Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Thursday that the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/8/20/dilg-zamboanga-school-shooter-exploited-gap-to-carry-out-attack-1329">alleged student gunman found an opportunity to use an emergency exit in the school</a>, which he said was unlocked during class hours.</p><p>Remulla however maintained that Ateneo de Zamboanga had followed security protocols and said there was no lapse on the part of the school.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</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/u6ICdW-s0vo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The Zamboanga police is monitoring social media for alleged threats to schools, following the deadly shooting incident at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University on Tuesday.</p>

The Zamboanga police is monitoring social media for alleged threats to schools, following the deadly shooting incident at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University on Tuesday.

Zamboanga police monitoring social media for school threats after Ateneo shooting

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Zamboanga police monitoring social media for school threats after Ateneo shooting

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 21, 2026 03:20 PM PHT

Read More:

Ateneo de Zamboanga University

School Shooting

Zamboanga City

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