19/08/2026
JJWC Statement on the Shooting Incident at the Ateneo de Zamboanga
University Junior High School
We are deeply saddened by the shooting incident at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University Junior High School, which claimed the lives of two children.
As authorities work to put together the details of what happened, we want to be clear that these were children. Their privacy, dignity, and their families’ privacy must be protected at all costs. Their identities and personal circumstances should not be unnecessarily disclosed or circulated.
We ask the public, the media, and everyone to exercise real restraint and care in reporting and sharing information. Sensationalizing a tragedy like this by sharing names, photos, videos, or other identifying details only adds to the pain already felt by the families, students, and community affected by this incident.
We urge everyone to refrain from disseminating unverified information and allow the proper authorities and the school to address the incident to ensure the safety of the students and the community. School safety and the protection of our students remain paramount, especially in the face of such a traumatic event.
Our deepest sympathies are with the families of the students, their classmates, teachers, and the entire Ateneo de Zamboanga University community. We appeal to everyone to act with compassion and responsibility, ensuring the safety, privacy, dignity, and well-being of our children remain at the center of our response to this tragic incident.
