Customs suspends father of Zamboanga school shooter

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has ordered the preventive suspension of the father of the school shooter at Ateneo de Zamboanga.

In a statement on Tuesday, August 18, Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said he ordered the “relief and preventive suspension” of the customs police officer who owned the guns used by the minor school shooter.

Nepomuceno also directed concerned Deputy Commissioners and field offices to initiate a comprehensive probe and collect all relevant documents, records, statements, and supporting evidence.

“The Bureau has also instructed all concerned personnel to fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation by the proper authorities,” the BOC’s statement read.

In response to the incident, Commissioner Nepomuceno mandated a strict 24-hour deadline for all BOC units to submit compliance reports detailing an accounting and inventory of all issued service firearms.

The shooter, who is a senior high school student at Ateneo de Zamboanga, shot two students on Tuesday morning. Nine people were also reported injured.

Local reports said the alleged shooter was armed with a pistol and a short-type combat rifle.

Some photos circulating on social media show a pistol converter kit that can convert a handgun to a rifle-like weapon.

The shooter was also reportedly seen livestreaming the incident on social media.

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