TWO WEAPONS, SAME SERIAL NUMBERS: Firearm used in Tacloban school attack cloned?

National

A FIREARM registered to a Cebu City-based security agency has emerged as a key focus of the investigation into the deadly Tacloban school shooting.

This, after authorities discovered that a gun recovered from the crime scene carries the same serial number as a licensed revolver deployed in Bohol.

Col. Elmer Cinco, chief of the Regional Civil Security Unit-Central Visayas (RCSU-7), revealed on Wednesday, June 24, that investigators are now exploring the possibility that one of the firearms may have been cloned.

This came days after a shooting inside San Jose National High School in Tacloban City left three students dead and at least 20 others injured, making it one of the deadliest school attacks recorded in Eastern Visayas.

According to Cinco, investigators in Eastern Visayas traced one of the firearms recovered from the suspects—a caliber .38 revolver—to a security agency based in Cebu City.

In coordination with the Regional Civil Security Unit- Eastern Visayas (RCSU-8), authorities immediately verified the firearm's registration records and inspected the agency concerned.

The agency confirmed that it owns a revolver bearing the same serial number. It also reported that the firearm had been assigned to a security guard stationed at an institution in Bohol.

Authorities later located the firearm and took custody of it for examination.

“Positive po ang firearm na nandoon,” Cinco said, referring to the revolver recovered from the guard in Bohol.

The weapon has since been turned over for forensic examination as investigators attempt to determine how another firearm carrying the same serial number surfaced in Tacloban and ended up being used in a crime involving minors.

For now, investigators have not established how two firearms could apparently share identical serial numbers.

Cinco said one possibility being examined is that one of the guns may have been copied or altered.

“Possible na kinopya,” he said.

“Hindi rin natin alam na naiwala niya ba ang baril at sa takot siguro na mapenalize sila, kinopya ang baril. Hindi ko masisigurado pa,” he added.

He stressed that authorities are still gathering evidence and have yet to determine whether either firearm was illegally modified, replaced, or cloned.

The investigation remains centered on establishing the history and movement of both weapons.

Investigators are now relying on forensic tests to help answer those questions.

Cinco said authorities have requested a ballistic examination of the firearm recovered in Bohol.

Both revolvers appear to be the same make and model—an Armscor caliber .38—and carry the same serial number.

“The same firearm, Armscor .38 caliber,” he said.

Initial comparisons also showed the firearms to be nearly identical.

However, investigators noted a slight difference involving epoxy material found near the barrel of the firearm recovered after the shooting.

“Meron lang nakita sa report na may konting epoxy ang firearm na ginamit sa crime sa may bandang barrel niya,” Cinco said.

The forensic examination is expected to help determine whether one firearm is original and whether the other had been altered or reproduced.

“Isa sa mga baril doon ay original pero hindi pa natin alam kung which firearm is original,” Cinco said.

While RCSU-7 verified the firearm records and conducted inspections in Central Visayas, Cinco clarified that the primary investigation remains under the jurisdiction of authorities in Eastern Visayas.

“Ang main investigate dito is the RCSU-8. We are just supporting the investigation,” he said.

He added that monthly firearm disposition reports submitted by security agencies allow authorities to track where licensed firearms are deployed, including the

names of guards assigned to them.

Cinco said the case is the first of its kind that he has personally encountered.

“Sa pagkakaalam ko, ngayon lang ako naka-encounter ng ganyan,” he said.

The police official also warned that serious violations involving registered firearms could expose security agencies to both administrative and criminal liability.

Authorities regularly conduct post-deployment inspections, and findings of irregularities could lead to the revocation of an agency’s license and possible charges under Republic Act No. 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

Meanwhile, investigators continue to determine how the revolver recovered in Tacloban ended up in the possession of the minor suspects.

The shooting occurred shortly after 9 a.m. on Monday inside San Jose National High School.

Police earlier said the two suspects, aged 14 and 15, allegedly opened fire inside school premises using a caliber .38 revolver and a 9mm Glock pistol.

The Glock was traced to a policewoman assigned to Police Regional Office-8, who was identified as an aunt of one of the suspects.

The revolver, meanwhile, was linked to the Cebu-based security agency now under investigation.

Authorities have yet to establish a motive behind the attack.

As concern over the incident continues to ripple across schools and communities, Cinco urged firearm owners to exercise greater responsibility in securing their weapons.

“As a parent myself,” he said, “sa mga parents na may registered firearms, huwag ipaabot sa minors.”

He also encouraged schools, local governments, and law enforcement agencies to strengthen emergency preparedness measures, including active-shooter response drills.

“Dapat may active shooting drill para, God forbid, maiwasan or alam ang gagawin,” Cinco said.(TGP)