DepEd: Shooter's father not part of Banga National High School probe

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The Department of Education (DepEd) has relieved the father of the Banga, South Cotabato shooter from his post within his agency, Secretary Sonny Angara said Saturday.

"Well, definitely. Hindi dapat siya involved sa investigation," Angara told reporters in South Cotabato when asked if the father would be temporarily removed as an employee of the department.

(Well, definitely. He should not be involved in the investigation.)

Following the South Cotabato school shooting that left three students dead, Banga Mayor Albert Palencia reported that the gun used in the incident belonged to the suspect's father—a DepEd employee.

However, the DepEd clarified that the shooter's father has yet to be formally suspended or terminated since there is no case yet, which will be based on the police's investigation.

Angara traveled to South Cotabato a day after the deadly shooting. This is the third school shooting in 2026 which led to multiple student deaths. It was preceded by a school shooting in Tacloban last June which resulted in three deaths, followed by another school shooting in Zamboanga in August which led to two deaths.

The DepEd chief said the department is allowing the Philippine National Police (PNP) to determine the criminal aspect of the case, as they are still waiting on the police report regarding how the suspect was able to get the gun and how he snuck it into school premises.

"Sa amin, ang concern namin is 'yung safety ng mga bata, 'yung pagbalik, kailan mag-umpisa 'yung pasukan," Angara said.

(Our concern is the safety of the kids, their return to school, the timeline for resumption of classes here.)

Palencia previously mentioned in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB that the suspect was able to obtain the gun by breaking into his father's vault.

The father was reportedly away in General Santos, teaching others about child safety. — VDV, GMA News