Culture & Entertainment · Philippines Bureau
Interior chief clears AdZU of security lapses in deadly campus shooting
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla has ruled out institutional negligence at Ateneo de Zamboanga University following Tuesday's shooting that claimed two student lives. Investigators determined the gunman entered the junior high school campus via an emergency exit.
LSN Philippines ·
PAGADIAN CITY, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR — Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Thursday dismissed claims that Ateneo de Zamboanga University (AdZU) failed in its security protocols ahead of Tuesday's shooting incident that resulted in two student fatalities.
Remulla's statement aligned with findings from law enforcement investigators, who determined that the shooter gained access to the junior high school campus through an emergency exit rather than through breaches in the institution's primary security measures.
The shooting marked a serious security incident in the region and prompted immediate reviews of campus safety procedures. However, officials indicated that the use of the emergency exit—typically designed for evacuation purposes—represented an extraordinary entry method rather than evidence of systematic security deficiencies.
The Interior Secretary's assessment suggested that while the tragic incident warranted continued scrutiny of campus safety protocols, the university's existing security framework had functioned as intended during normal operations. Authorities continued their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the gunman's motives.