Remulla Seeks Tighter Firearm Safekeeping Rules After Zamboanga School Shooting

MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla has called on Congress to review the country’s firearm laws following the fatal shooting at a school affiliated with Ateneo de Zamboanga University.

Authorities said two students died and others were injured in the August 18 incident. Investigators are still establishing how the firearm was accessed and the full circumstances of the attack. This report omits the names of minors and graphic details.

Remulla’s proposals

In an August 19 briefing, Remulla proposed tougher consequences for illegal possession of loose firearms and clearer accountability when a licensed owner fails to secure a weapon that is later used by another person. He also asked lawmakers to consider making illegal possession of a loose firearm a nonbailable offense.

These are policy proposals, not changes already in force. Congress would have to pass legislation, and the courts would continue to determine how bail and criminal liability apply in individual cases under the Constitution and relevant laws.

Remulla also said that loose firearms account for about 98 percent of gun-related crimes. That figure is presented as his claim; Connect TV Channel did not find a current public nationwide dataset that independently confirms it.

What current Philippine law says

Republic Act No. 10591, the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, is the principal current law regulating firearms in the Philippines. It defines a loose firearm broadly, including an unregistered weapon, an obliterated or altered firearm, one possessed by an unlicensed person, or a registered firearm held by someone other than its licensed owner outside the law’s permitted circumstances.

The law provides penalties for unlawful acquisition or possession and separate rules when a loose firearm is used in another crime. The appropriate charge and penalty depend on the evidence and must be determined by prosecutors and the courts.

Republic Act No. 8294 is a 1997 law that amended the earlier firearms framework. It is sometimes called the “Robin Padilla law” in political discussion, but that phrase is not its official title. Republic Act No. 10591 later established the present comprehensive framework, so proposals to amend firearm policy should be evaluated against the full body of current law.

Owner responsibility remains under investigation

News reports said the weapon involved was registered to the student’s father, a Bureau of Customs employee. Authorities are investigating how it was stored and accessed. Registration alone does not establish that the owner committed a crime, and no final finding of criminal or administrative liability should be assumed before due process is completed.

The investigation should determine whether existing licensing, safekeeping and access-control requirements were followed and whether any person may be legally accountable. Connect TV Channel will update this report when police, prosecutors or another authorized agency releases a material finding.

School safety and prevention

The incident has renewed discussion about secure firearm storage, preventing unauthorized access, school threat-reporting systems and coordination among families, educators, law enforcement and mental-health professionals.

Responsible coverage should focus on verified facts and prevention. Readers should not circulate graphic material, identify minors or speculate about motive while the investigation is continuing. Anyone facing an immediate threat should contact local emergency authorities.