Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Thursday personally went to Zamboanga City to oversee the investigation into the Ateneo de Zamboanga University (AdZU) shooting incident, saying initial findings indicate that the Grade 8 shooter acted alone and was influenced by an online game.

“As far as we can determine, he acted alone in the sense that he planned, executed and willfully did everything on his own. There was no conspiracy behind it; there was no active group that planned it with him; there was no family influence that made him do the unthinkable,” Remulla said during a press conference at AdZU.

Remulla, together with Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief P/Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., visited Zamboanga City to personally assess the progress of the investigation and the security situation following the school shooting.

The DILG chief said investigators are also looking at the shooter’s exposure to online games and their possible influence on his behavior. He specifically identified Roblox as among the games played by the shooter and said he would push for its banning in the country.

“This is a case of undue influence of certain games on the Internet. This is a case of desensitization of violence for children because of the games they play on the Internet… The shooter is a victim of undue influence,” he said.

Remulla also renewed his call for stronger accountability in gun ownership. He said he is set to meet with the leadership of the House of Representatives next week to discuss possible measures to strengthen existing policies, particularly on the responsibility and culpability of firearm owners whose guns end up in the hands of unauthorized persons.

At the same time, he appealed to parents to take a more active role in monitoring their children’s online activities, including their exposure to social media and online games.

“Hinihiling ko po sa mga magulang na kasama rin po kayo dito. I-check po ninyo kung ano ang pinapanood nila, kung ano ang nilalaro nila,” Remulla said.

On school security, Remulla said AdZU’s existing protocols were at par with industry standards, but the shooter was able to exploit a vulnerability in the school’s physical structure. He said the incident underscores the need to continuously review security measures and address possible gaps.

Remulla also asked the school administration to resume classes while continuing grief counseling and psychosocial support for the AdZU community.

“People in Zamboanga must realize that life must go back to normal, though the pain lingers in the community and the families involved,” he said.

He assured residents that Zamboanga City remains safe, as the PNP continues to intensify police visibility around public and private schools nationwide following the incident.

Remulla likewise stressed that the shooting should not be framed as an issue of cultural or religious differences, noting that the families of the victim and the shooter knew each other within the AdZU community.