Philippines School Shooting Leaves Three Dead, Seven Injured

Manila, Philippines: In a tragic event at a high school in Tacloban City, central Philippines, two students opened fire, resulting in the deaths of three students and injuries to seven others. The incident occurred on Monday, said police authorities.

The suspects, aged 14 and 15, were apprehended shortly afterward. Both suspects and the victims were attending San Jose National High School, where the shooting transpired mid-morning, according to Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy, regional police chief.

“An investigation is being conducted to uncover the reasons behind the shooting at the government-operated school, which enrolls over 1,500 students,” Capoy stated.

Initial inquiries revealed the suspects, who were allegedly good friends, claimed they had been bullied at the school. Capoy did not expand on the allegations. The suspects do not have criminal histories, he added. One obtained the 9 mm pistol used in the attack from an aunt, a police officer currently under investigation. The other suspect used a caliber .38 revolver, registered to a security agency in Cebu City. Weak security measures, with a single guard, allowed the suspects to bring weapons onto the campus.

After entering a classroom and firing, the children fled, leading the suspects to chase some victims into another room. Most of the victims were female students, Capoy reported.

Authorities found over 40 shell casings at the attack scene. Videos shared online show students hiding under desks, screaming and crying during the shooting. Some students phoned their mothers, while other footage displays terrified students holding one another as they escaped the campus.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has called for an in-depth investigation into the incident, urging increased security in schools, workplaces, and public venues, as noted by Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro.

“The president expressed sorrow over the event, recognizing the fear and grief experienced by the victims’ parents,” Castro commented.

Due to their minor status, the suspects will be handed over to welfare authorities post-investigation. Under a 2006 Philippine law, the 14-year-old suspect will not face criminal charges because the law sets the threshold for criminal liability at age 15. Law enforcement urges citizens to stay composed and support the investigation by sharing possible useful information.

Gun-related crimes are common in the Philippines, attributed in part to widespread unlicensed firearms. Nonetheless, school shootings remain uncommon. A shooting incident in 2022 at a university in metropolitan Manila resulted in three fatalities, including a former town mayor, with the suspect apprehended.