DepEd says South Cotabato school shooter’s father relieved from post

MANILA, Philippines — The father of the student behind the school shooting in a South Cotabato high school has been relieved from his post at the Department of Education (DepEd), agency officials said on Tuesday.

During the House of Representatives’ plenary discussions on DepEd’s proposed budget for 2027, Davao de Oro Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora gave this update when asked by Akbayan Rep. Percival Cendaña about the agency’s response to the shooting incident at the Banga National High School last Friday — which claimed the lives of three students and injured six others.

Cendaña’s question particularly delved on the actions taken by DepEd regarding the student’s father — an officer of DepEd Region XII — as he allegedly owns the firearm used in the gun attack.

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“Lumabas sa imbestigasyon na ang baril na ginamit ay pagmamay-ari ng ama ng bata — reportedly a Disaster Risk Mitigation Officer of DepEd Region XII.  Tanong lang po natin Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, ano pong administrative at legal liability ang ipapataw ng DepEd sa mga kawani nitong hindi nakapagtago nang maayos ng kanilang mga armas?” Cendaña asked.

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(It appears from the investigations that the guns used were owned by the student’s father — reportedly a Disaster Risk Mitigation Officer of DepEd Region XII.  Our question, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, what are the administrative and legal liabilities that DepEd will impose on its officers who fail to properly store their firearms?)

“We share the same sentiment with his Honor, and the DepEd is also seriously addressing these concerns.  With regards to the question as what is the liability, what action, what are the actions taken by the department with the parent.  Mr. Speaker, your Honor, the parent was already relieved from his post as DRRM of the department,” Zamora, sponsor of the DepEd budget, replied.

READ: South Cotabato school shooting kills 3, hurts 6

Cendaña said it is saddening that he is talking about a new school shooting tragedy when during the committee deliberations on DepEd’s proposed budget, he and other lawmakers raised concerns about a previous incident — the one in Ateneo de Zamboanga University last August 18.

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The lawmaker then asked if there are any existing policies within DepEd regarding officers who own firearms.

READ: Zamboanga City school shooting suspect dead — DILG

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“May internal policy po ba or administrative circular ang DepEd regarding responsible gun ownership or gun ownership in general, ito po ba ay ina-allow ng DepEd amongst its staff and officials?” Cendaña asked.

(Is there an internal policy or administrative circular from DepEd regarding responsible gun ownership or gun ownership in general, does the DepEd allow this amongst its staff and officials?)

“As to the internal policy of the department, there is no internal policy within the department.  But the department subjects it to the discretion of every employee, every personnel of DepEd to adhere with the existing laws on proper handling of firearms,” Zamora said.

“Sa mga nangyayari pong karahasan involving guns in our schools, mukhang marapat na po sa lalong madaling panahon, magkaroon ng internal policy at administrative circular ang [DepEd] pagdating po sa responsible gun ownership.  At posible nga po, baka medyo mas extreme pa, on top of responsible gun ownership, stricter gun ownership policies within the department,” he added.

(With the recent violent incidents involving guns in our schools, it seems timely for the [DepEd] to have an internal policy at administrative circular regarding responsible gun ownership.  And it is possible, maybe more extreme, on top of responsible gun ownership, stricter gun ownership policies within the department.)

Reports quoting Banga Mayor Albert Palencia stated that the 16-year-old student behind the shooting incident at the high school had planned the attack as early as August and had warned some of his classmates hours before carrying it out.

Palencia last Saturday said that police investigators had briefed him on the teenager’s alleged plans based on group-chat conversations recovered from the student’s cell phone.

The conversations reportedly showed that the attack was initially set for Sept. 3 but did not push through, the mayor said.

Some classmates apparently knew about the plan and skipped school on Friday, Palencia said. Hours before the shooting, the teenager allegedly told friends and classmates to go home after lunch because he was about to carry out his plan.

The warnings, however, were reportedly dismissed as jokes because the student was known among his classmates for joking around.

School-related violence has seen an uptick in the country over the recent months — with the incident in South Cotabato being the third gun attack inside campuses in only three months.

Last June 22, three students were killed and five others were wounded when two suspects — both minors and students — opened fire inside the San Jose National High School campus in Tacloban City, Leyte.

The suspects, a 14-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy at the Grade 9 level, were arrested on the same day.  A Glock pistol and a caliber .38 revolver were confiscated from them.

READ: Both suspects in Tacloban City school shooting arrested — police 

Then on August 18, the Ateneo de Zamboanga University confirmed that two individuals — including the Grade 9 student tagged as the shooter — died after another shooting incident.

READ: Zamboanga City school shooting suspect dead — DILG 

Due to the incidents, several lawmakers and government officials have called for a social media ban for children, amid fears that unrestricted online access has influenced students to initiate shooting incidents.

There is a belief that the perpetrators in both incidents were supposedly exposed to violent content online or joined groups engaged in nihilistic violent extremist (NVE) behavior or senseless violence.

Last August 28, Senator Risa Hontiveros relayed that Philippine authorities have been able to secure a commitment from Meta, which owns and manages social media sites Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, along with other messaging apps, to provide authorities important information should they spot a possible threat to children.

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Then on September 7, the House of Representatives’ committee on welfare of children approved a substitute bill that proposes a full social media ban for children below 13, and restrictions on the said technology’s use for those aged 13 to 18 as a means to shield young people from harmful content online. /jpv