Manila, Philippines — Two students, both teenagers, armed with handguns unleashed terror in a high school located in the central Philippines on Monday. The violent act resulted in the death of three students and injuries to seven more, according to police reports.
The suspects, aged 14 and 15, have been detained. They and their victims attended San Jose National High School in Tacloban city, southeast of Manila, where the shooting occurred mid-morning, reported regional police chief Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy.
An investigation is currently analyzing the underlying reasons behind this tragic event at the government-run school, which accommodates more than 1,500 students. Initial interrogations suggest bullying as a trigger point. The suspects, reportedly close friends, admitted feeling bullied, although Capoy did not provide further insights. Both suspects were previously unknown to law enforcement.
One of the firearms, a 9mm pistol, was sourced from an aunt who is a police officer. Her role in this matter is part of the ongoing inquiries. The other weapon, a .38 caliber revolver, is linked to a security agency based in Cebu City, central Philippines, according to Philippine National Police spokesperson Allen Rae Co and reported by Reuters.
Weak security measures seemingly facilitated the firearms’ entry to the campus. Capoy explained that numerous entrances and exits with minimal security allowed the suspects to bypass detection. Police presence heightened significantly after the attack, with officers concentrated around the high school in Tacloban City. Reports indicated that the suspects moved from one classroom to another, targeting students in two rooms.
Females comprised most victims, revealed Capoy. Authorities recovered at least 40 shell casings at the crime scene. Disturbing footage shared online captures students hiding and screaming under desks during the assault. Some students contacted their parents amidst the chaos. Other videos portray them fleeing, visibly distressed and supporting each other.
While one suspect was apprehended on campus, the other evaded capture momentarily. The latter was tracked down to a nearby house by police following a tip from local residents.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has demanded a meticulous investigation into the incident. He instructed the enforcement agencies to elevate security levels at educational institutions and other public spaces, stated Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro. Castro expressed the president’s sympathies and acknowledged the emotional impact on the victims’ families.
The minors will remain under the detention of social welfare following the inquiry. The 14-year-old is immune from prosecution under a 2006 Philippine statute shielding individuals below 15 from criminal charges, unless it is clear they comprehended the crime’s gravity.
Authorities are urging citizens to provide any details that may assist in the ongoing investigation. Although firearm-related offences are widespread in the country, largely attributed to numerous unregistered weapons, school shootings remain infrequent.
In 2022, a separate incident occurred involving a gunman who wielded pistols in a Manila metropolitan upscale university. This resulted in a former town mayor’s death and two more casualties. The attacker was caught.