A 14-year-old student was caught bringing a loaded revolver to school in Pinamungajan, Cebu, on Thursday, August 20, when a teacher discovered the firearm during a surprise bag inspection conducted as a safety precaution.
At around 3:50 p.m., the teacher uncovered a .357-caliber Smith & Wesson Magnum revolver inside the student’s school bag, prompting immediate alarm and concern among school authorities. The incident unfolded just days after separate shooting incidents in Zamboanga City and Cebu City raised urgent questions about school safety and gun access among minors.
The school administration promptly alerted the police, who arrived to verify the report, secure the weapon, and take custody of the student. Authorities confirmed that the revolver was recovered without ammunition and was turned over for proper documentation and disposition. Initial investigation revealed that the firearm allegedly belonged to the student’s grandfather and had reportedly been kept inside a cabinet at their residence — raising serious concerns about how the minor was able to access and transport the high-powered weapon to school undetected.
The discovery comes amid heightened vigilance across Cebu and the rest of the country following recent acts of violence involving weapons near school premises. Just the previous evening, a separate shooting incident in Barangay Basak San Nicolas, Cebu City, prompted two schools — Don Vicente Rama Elementary and High School — to suspend face-to-face classes due to safety fears. Together, these incidents have intensified calls for stricter gun control at home, stronger security protocols in schools, and greater parental responsibility to ensure that firearms are properly secured and kept out of the reach of children.
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