ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Zamboanga City government has assured support for those affected by the shooting at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University campus as authorities work to secure the area and determine exactly what led to the deadly incident.
The shooting happened Tuesday morning, August 18, at the Ateneo de Zamboanga Junior High School campus. The city government said it was coordinating closely with the school administration, the Zamboanga City Police Office and other concerned authorities following the incident.
Authorities have since declared the situation under control, with the school suspending in-person classes and directing parents and guardians to pick up students. The city government also urged residents to remain calm and vigilant while relying only on official advisories.
Two students confirmed dead
The latest confirmed reports put the death toll at two students, including the alleged shooter.
Reuters reported that Zamboanga City Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso said the two fatalities were students and that one of them was the shooter. Ateneo de Zamboanga University President Ernald Andal separately confirmed that there were two fatalities and that there was no longer an active shooter.
ABS-CBN likewise reported that two students died, including the alleged shooter. Inquirer also reported that the university confirmed two fatalities.
The exact circumstances surrounding the shooting, including the motive and how the suspect gained access to firearms, remain subject to investigation.
Officials warn against spreading unverified posts
As details of the incident rapidly circulated online, the Zamboanga City government specifically warned the public against sharing unverified claims, photographs, videos and rumors.
Officials said such material could cause unnecessary panic and potentially interfere with the ongoing police investigation. Residents were urged to depend on statements from the city government, police, school officials and other authorized agencies.
The warning is particularly significant as reports about the incident changed during the first hours following the shooting. Some early reports carried different casualty figures, underscoring the importance of waiting for official confirmation before publishing or sharing information.
School safety now takes center stage
The incident has also renewed questions about security inside Philippine schools, particularly regarding how a student could allegedly bring firearms onto a campus.
SunStar reported that the shooting occurred at around 7:50 a.m. while classes were ongoing. Police said students were evacuated to designated safe areas, while the school suspended in-person classes.
The shooting comes after another deadly school attack in Tacloban City in June, where Reuters reported that at least three students were killed and about 20 others were injured after two students allegedly opened fire at a public high school.
That broader pattern puts renewed attention on school security, firearm access, emergency-response protocols and the support available to students and teachers following violent incidents.
LGU: Support for affected families and the community
For Zamboanga City officials, the immediate priority is helping those affected while maintaining order and allowing investigators to establish the facts.
The city government said it is prepared to extend support to those affected and called for unity and vigilance as authorities continue responding to the incident.
For now, authorities have emphasized that the immediate threat has been contained. But as investigators reconstruct what happened inside the Ateneo de Zamboanga campus, one question is likely to dominate the next phase of the story:
How did a deadly shooting happen inside a school—and what must change to prevent another one?
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