MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has ordered a full investigation into the deadly shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University and called for stronger safeguards in schools nationwide after the attack left two people dead on Tuesday.
Marcos directed law enforcement agencies to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting and determine what additional security measures must be adopted to prevent similar attacks in educational institutions.
“Our schools are where we entrust our children to learn, to grow and to dream about the lives ahead of them. They must also be among the safest places in our country,” Marcos said in a social media post.
The President expressed condolences to the families of the victims and the Ateneo de Zamboanga University community, describing the shooting as a tragedy that should not have happened.
“I have directed our law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into this incident and to determine what more must be done to prevent another family, another school and another community from suffering the same grief,” he said.
Marcos said the government would also work with educational institutions and local communities to strengthen security measures, stressing that the response should go beyond identifying those responsible for the shooting.
Ateneo de Zamboanga University earlier confirmed that two people were killed in the shooting at its Junior High School campus on Tuesday.
Following the incident, the university contacted parents and guardians and instructed them to pick up their children. Students who remained on campus were placed under the protection of school personnel.
The university said it was coordinating with authorities as the investigation continued and would release only verified information through its official channels.
It also appealed to the public to respect the privacy of the victims, their families and others affected by the shooting.
Marcos stressed that ensuring the safety of students requires cooperation among law enforcement agencies, schools and communities.
“We will work with our schools and communities to strengthen the safeguards that protect our students and ensure that they can pursue their education without fear,” he said. “Every Filipino family deserves that assurance.”/PN
