ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has filed criminal complaints against the father of the teenage student who carried out the deadly shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University and a school security personnel, following the completion of its investigation into the August 18 incident.
The two respondents are facing complaints for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and physical injuries, according to the PNP and multiple reports released on August 26 and 27. The complaint was filed before the appropriate prosecutorial authority, meaning the respondents remain entitled to due process and have not been found guilty of the allegations.
PNP cites firearm and school-security lapses
Police Regional Office 9 said investigators found sufficient evidence to support the filing of the complaints.
The investigation identified two major areas of concern: the safekeeping and accountability of the firearms used in the shooting and security procedures at the school.
According to the PNP, gaps in firearm safekeeping allowed the student to gain unauthorized access to the weapons. Investigators also found security deficiencies, particularly in the school’s entry and exit screening, that contributed to how the firearms were brought onto campus.
The registered owner of the firearms was identified in earlier reports as Lt. Lars Jalani, an official of the Bureau of Customs in Zamboanga and the father of the student involved in the shooting.
The Bureau of Customs had previously relieved Jalani from his post to allow an impartial investigation into whether there was negligence in the handling and safekeeping of his firearm. The agency also ordered an accounting and inventory of firearms issued to its personnel and a review of its firearm-safety policies.
What happened inside the Ateneo de Zamboanga campus?
The shooting occurred on the morning of August 18, 2026, at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University campus in Zamboanga City.
Authorities reported that a student entered the school armed with firearms and shot another student. The shooter later died by suicide, bringing the total number of fatalities to two.
Earlier reports said the firearms involved included a pistol and a rifle. The Bureau of Customs subsequently confirmed that one firearm was a BOC-issued Glock, while another was reportedly a personally owned and licensed firearm.
The incident triggered a wider investigation into how the weapons were obtained and brought inside the school.
PNP: No evidence of wider conspiracy
One of the most significant findings from the completed investigation was that authorities found no evidence that the shooting was carried out as part of a conspiracy involving a group, organization or other individuals.
The PNP said the evidence gathered—including witness statements, security footage, school records and digital and physical evidence—helped investigators reconstruct the events leading to the shooting.
Authorities have also previously said that the student appeared to have planned the attack and that investigators were examining his exposure to violent online material.
However, officials have cautioned against relying on speculation, stressing that conclusions must be based on verified evidence.
Father and security personnel now face legal proceedings
The filing of the complaints marks a new phase in the investigation.
The father is facing a complaint because of alleged negligence involving the firearms that were later used in the shooting, while the school security personnel is being held to account over alleged lapses that allowed the weapon to enter the campus.
PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. emphasized that investigators followed the evidence and that the proper legal process should determine accountability.
The development comes amid renewed national scrutiny of school security, firearm storage and access to weapons by minors, following a series of school-related shooting incidents in the Philippines.
For the families affected by the Ateneo de Zamboanga tragedy, however, the filing of complaints is only one part of the search for accountability.
The bigger question now is whether the security and firearm-control failures identified by investigators could have prevented the tragedy in the first place.
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