ALL eight Filipino teachers at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Nonthaburi province, north of Bangkok, are safe and unharmed following a deadly shooting incident on Friday.
Philippine Ambassador to Thailand Millicent Cruz-Paredes confirmed their safety in an official statement, saying: “All 8 Filipino teachers in Debsirin School Nonthaburi are safe, no injuries. They are in the designated safe zone.” The assurance came as the Philippine embassy moved quickly to account for its nationals amid the chaos and fear that swept through the school grounds.
According to Thai national police, the teenage suspect first shot and killed his grandparents at their home using his grandfather’s firearm before traveling to the secondary school and opening fire.
The attack left three teachers and three students dead. The suspect, himself a student at the school, was later found dead — though reports differ on whether he was killed by responding police or died by suicide. Fifteen students were injured while fleeing the scene, though none were struck by bullets.
One Grade 12 student, Pawarisa Maylissa, described the terror unfolding inside the building: “I heard many gunshots very loudly because it seemed the suspect was on the floor directly above us. I could even hear bullets hitting the floor.” Expressing fear for her life and her future, she added: “I was afraid that I would die, and I was scared that I wouldn’t be able to pursue my dreams.” Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul expressed shock and sorrow, telling reporters: “It’s such a terrible incident. It should never have happened. How could this happen in our country?”
The tragedy has renewed scrutiny over Thailand’s high rate of gun ownership, estimated at roughly 10 million firearms in circulation — or about one firearm for every seven residents. Despite repeated pledges to tighten gun control laws in recent years, the country continues to see recurring incidents of gun violence, raising urgent questions about public safety and the effectiveness of existing regulations.
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