Gun-toting inside Makati exclusive school probed

MANILA, Philippines - The Makati City police has started its investigation into the alleged gun-toting incident inside the Colegio de San Agustin in the posh Dasmariñas Village involving a fourth year high school student and a parent on Aug. 30.

Acting city police chief Superintendent Jaime Santos said they are investigating the incident although the victim, whose name was withheld for being a minor, has yet to file a formal complaint.

Santos said the victim and his grandmother, Asuncion Gonzales, had the incident recorded at the Makati police Substation 6, which has jurisdiction over the school.

Santos said they are currently coordinating with the Firearms and Explosives Division (FED) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to find out if the gun used in the incident is licensed.

He said they are also verifying records at Camp Crame of the reported bodyguard of the suspect identified as Allan Bantilles.

Santos said they would question the school’s security guards for allegedly allowing Bantilles and his bodyguard to enter the campus armed with a handgun.

Based on the statements of the witnesses, Santos said Bantilles and his bodyguard entered the school premises and confronted Gonzales’ grandson.

He added that Bantilles slapped the boy, took the gun from his bodyguard and pointed it on the victim’s head.

The police official said that Bantilles and his still unidentified bodyguard have yet to submit their affidavits to the police.

Gonzales, in an interview with dzMM, said the incident stemmed from a quarrel between her grandson and Bantilles’ son.

She said her grandson had punched Bantilles’ son for allegedly bullying him.

After learning the punching incident, Bantilles reportedly rushed to the school with his bodyguard, hurled invectives at the victim before pointing a gun to his head.

The school management suspended Gonzales’ grandson while Bantilles’ son and another student were not suspended despite the alleged bullying.

Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) said that it was satisfied with the prompt action taken by school administration on the gun-poking incident.

Lawyer Tonisito Umali, DepEd Assistant Secretary for Legal and Legislative Affairs, said Bantilles has been banned in the school premises. – Mike Frialde, Rainier Allan Ronda