Banga school shooter's father may face reckless imprudence case -- SILG Remulla

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The father of the student who carried out the deadly shooting at a Banga, South Cotabato school may face a reckless imprudence case over the use of his firearm used in the incident, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Monday.

“First of all, as I have said, everyone is a victim here. But as of now, sa batas natin ay reckless imprudence lang ang puwedeng i-charge sa kanya,” Remulla said at a press conference when asked about the liability of the father who owns the gun.

(First of all, as I have said, everyone is a victim here. But as of now, under our law, he can only be charged with reckless imprudence.)

The shooter’s father is an employee of the Department of Education.

Remulla said he would ask Congress to consider strengthening the accountability of gun owners when their firearms are accessed and used by family members.

“Kaya nga pupunta ko sa Congress bukas para makiusap na ang culpability ng gun owners extends to the use of their family kung may nangyari,” Remulla said.

(That's why I'm going to Congress tomorrow to ask that the culpability of gun owners extends to the use of their family if something happens.)

“Kung nangyari dito ay murder, dapat managot rin ang magulang na parehong kaparusahan. Ngunit sa batas natin ngayin ay hindi pa ganun,” he added.

(If what happened here was murder, the parents should also be held accountable and receive the same punishment. But in our current law, that's not the case.)

Remulla said that the student's parents learned in April 2026 that their son already joined a certain group with malicious motives. Due to this, the parents took him to a psychologist.

“Lahat po ng tamang hakbang ay ginawa na kanyang magulang. Dinala po sa psychologist kinausap at nakinig naman. Umalis daw siya sa grupong humuhubog sa kanya,” he said.

(His parents took all the right steps. They took him to a psychologist, talked to him, and he listened. He said he left the group that was grooming him.)

“Ang baril na ginamit ay nilagay sa isang safety deposit na case. Ngunit yung bata ay desidido na talaga. Humubog na utak niya ay parang sinapian na siya ng demonyo at hindi niya matanggal yung pinasok ng mga pag-iisip sa kanyang pagkatao,” he added.

(The gun used was placed in a safety deposit case. But the boy was really determined. His mind was twisted, as if he had been possessed by a demon and he could not get rid of the thoughts that had entered his personality.)

On September 18, at least three students were killed and eight others were wounded following the shooting inside the Banga school. —RF, GMA News