MANILA, Philippines — The father of the student who opened fire at a school in Banga, South Cotabato, is an employee of the Department of Education (DepEd) Region 12 and owner of the gun that was used in the shooting, the Deparment of Education (DepEd) confirmed on Saturday.
Separately, DepEd said the employee remained in active service and has not been suspended while the Philippine National Police (PNP) conducts its investigation.
Asked whether the father would be removed from his post because he was a DepEd employee, Angara said in an ambush interview: “Well, definitely, hindi dapat siya (he should not be) involved sa (in the) investigation.”
Angara said DepEd would respect the jurisdiction of the PNP over the criminal aspect of the incident and wait for the findings of its investigation.
“We respect the jurisdiction of the PNP here regarding the criminal aspect. We are just waiting for the findings of the PNP,” he said in Filipino and English.
He said the investigation would determine how the firearm entered the school and how the student obtained it.
Banga Municipal Mayor Albert Palencia withheld the identity of the DepEd employee and his son while the investigation was in progress.
However, Palencia said the mother told him that her 14-year-old son destroyed the vault where the Glock 9mm pistol was kept.
The tragic incident that shocked the whole community transpired in one of the classrooms of Grade 9 students of Banga National High School in Barangay Benitez at about 1:15 p.m. on Friday.
Three students were killed, including the shooter, while six others were injured. The victims were all students.
South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo, quoting one of the suspect’s friends, said the shooter was a member of an online gaming group called “True Crime Community.”
Tamayo said police were looking into reports linking an online community to the student. He emphasized that no conclusions should be made while the investigation is ongoing.
“No parent should lose a child due to violence, especially if it happened inside the school campus. The school is a place where our children should be safe,” Tamayo said.
“As parents and members of the community, we should work together to protect our children,” he said, adding that parents should talk to their children about school activities, their involvement in social media, and support them in all campus activities.
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) – Soccsksargen Director Loreto Cabaya Jr. said each wounded student in the Banga school shooting would receive P10,000 in cash assistance from the government.
“The families of three fatalities will also receive financial aid from the DSWD,” Cabaya said.
