Remulla: Zamboanga shooter’s dad cooperative; no culpability so far

MANILA, Philippines — The father of the alleged perpetrator of the fatal Ateneo de Zamboanga University (AdZU) Junior High School shooting is cooperative and appears to have no culpability so far, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said on Thursday.

Two were killed in the incident, particularly a Grade 10 student and the alleged Grade 8 shooter who turned the gun on himself.

READ: Ateneo de Zamboanga shooting: 2 students dead

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Remulla said the shooter “acted alone” with no conspirators and active groups that planned it with him, and “there was no family influence that made him do the unthinkable.”

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The 15-year-old male shooter allegedly wielded a caliber .40 pistol and a 9mm pistol that belonged to his father, a Bureau of Customs (BOC) personnel.

“The father is cooperating,” Remulla said in a press conference at AdZU. 

Asked if a case will be filed against the father, Remulla said: “We will leave it up to the fiscal to determine culpability but based on existing laws it appears we have yet to see, but we will know further.”

His father has since been relieved from his post as a district commander of the BOC’s enforcement and security services at the Zamboanga port.

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READ: Ateneo de Zamboanga shooter’s father left guns in car — BOC

Remulla noted that he has a permit to carry firearms, being a BOC personnel.

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On Wednesday, BOC commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said the shooter’s father left his firearms in his vehicle, which was used to drop off the shooter at the school.

According to Nepomuceno, a driver, not the boy’s father, accompanied him to school, but the guns remained in the vehicle, allowing the shooter to access them.

“The guns were in his car. I understand, that was a dangerous place,” Nepomuceno said in a phone interview.“Our personnel should be armed.”

Nepomuceno said the father has apologized for the incident, which he accepted.

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“He’s a good official,” Nepomuceno said of the father. “He has a lot of accomplishments.” /das