Nartatez mulls review of safeguards for police-issued firearms following Tacloban school shooting

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the investigation into the Tacloban City school shooting could prompt a review of existing safeguards on police-issued firearms, as authorities examine how a service weapon ended up being used by a minor in the deadly attack.

This came after police traced one of the firearms used in the shooting — a 9mm Glock pistol — to a police officer assigned to Police Regional Office 8. The weapon was allegedly used by a 14-year-old suspect, while a second firearm, a .38 caliber revolver, was linked to a security agency in Cebu.

Nartatez said the probe would determine whether there were lapses in the custody, safekeeping, and accountability of the police-issued firearm, and whether existing policies are sufficient to prevent unauthorized access to service weapons.

"The investigation will follow the evidence wherever it leads. Accountability will be based on facts, not rank," Nartatez said.

He said the findings of the investigation would help determine whether additional safeguards and stricter control measures should be adopted to ensure that police-issued firearms cannot be accessed, taken, or used by unauthorized persons, particularly minors and civilians.

The PNP is also looking into the accountability of individuals responsible for the firearms after investigators found that the weapons used in the shooting came from sources with existing firearm holders — a police officer in the case of the Glock pistol and a security agency for the revolver.

"If the evidence shows that existing policies on the safekeeping and accountability of service firearms were violated, those responsible will be held accountable in accordance with the law and PNP regulations," Nartatez said.

The PNP chief directed police units to coordinate with the Department of Education, local government units, and school officials to strengthen security measures in schools following the attack, which left three students dead and several others injured.