In Tacloban City, Philippines, a tragic event unfolded at San Jose National High School on Monday. Two students armed with handguns opened fire, resulting in the deaths of three students and injuries to seven others. The students involved, aged 14 and 15, were apprehended by authorities.
The incident occurred in a government-run school with over 1,500 students. Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy, regional police chief, stated that the suspects, who were close friends, mentioned they were bullied. The investigation aims to uncover the reasons behind the shooting.
The firearms used included a 9 mm pistol obtained from an aunt, a police officer, and a cal. 38 revolver. With only one guard on duty, the suspects managed to bring the guns into the school.
The suspects entered two classrooms, first shooting in one room and then pursuing victims into another. Most of those affected were female students. Police found at least 40 shell casings at the scene.
An online video captured the chaos, with students hiding under desks, crying, and calling for their mothers as gunfire erupted outside. Footage also showed students fleeing the campus in distress.
After the attack, one suspect was detained at the school, while the other hid in a nearby house. Police located him through local assistance.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called for a thorough investigation and increased security in schools, workplaces, and public areas. Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro noted the president’s sadness over the incident.
As minors, the suspects will be transferred to government welfare officers after the investigation. The 14-year-old cannot be criminally prosecuted under Philippine law, which sets the minimum age of criminal liability at 15. This is applicable only if the minor is aware of the crime and its consequences.
The Philippine national police have requested public cooperation and information to aid the investigation. While firearm-related crimes are common in the country due to unlicensed firearms, school shootings are rare.
In a similar incident from 2022, a gunman attacked a university in the Manila area, killing a former town mayor and two others. The gunman was arrested in that case.