Two students armed with handguns opened fire at a high school in the central Philippines on Monday, killing three fellow students and wounding another seven, authorities said. The suspects, aged 14 and 15, were arrested following the mid-morning attack at San Jose National High School in Tacloban city, regional police chief Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy confirmed.
Background
The shooting occurred at approximately 10 a.m. local time at the government-run school, which enrolls more than 1,500 students. According to Capoy, the suspects, described as close friends, claimed in initial questioning that they had been bullied at the school, though he did not provide additional details about their allegations or the nature of any alleged harassment. Neither suspect has a prior criminal record, Capoy said.
Police investigators discovered over 40 empty shell casings at the scene. Regional police chief Jason Capoy described how the suspects barged into two separate classrooms during the attack. "After the shooting in the first room, the children scampered and the suspects apparently ran after some victims into another room," Capoy told reporters.
The Investigation
National police spokesman Allen Rae Co confirmed that a 9mm pistol used in the shooting was registered to a female police officer stationed in the region. She has been taken into custody as investigators work to determine how the weapons came into the suspects' possession, Co said during a media briefing. A second weapon, a .38 caliber revolver recovered at the scene, was registered to a security agency in Cebu City in the central Philippines.
Investigators are examining how the students managed to bring firearms onto campus despite security protocols. Capoy noted that only one guard was on duty monitoring multiple entrances and exits at the time of the attack.
One suspect was arrested on school grounds following the shooting, while the second fled the campus and hid in a nearby residence. Police apprehended him after residents alerted authorities to his whereabouts.
Key Takeaways
- Three students killed, seven wounded in San Jose National High School shooting in Tacloban city, central Philippines
- Suspects are two students aged 14 and 15; both have been arrested without bail as minors
- Weapons included a 9mm pistol registered to a regional police officer and a .38 caliber revolver registered to a Cebu City security agency
- Police recovered over 40 empty shell casings from the scene
- Suspects claimed in initial questioning they were bullied at school; neither has prior criminal history
- One guard was monitoring multiple entry points during the mid-morning attack
- Most victims were female students, according to regional police chief Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy
What's Next
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered a thorough investigation into the shooting and directed law enforcement agencies to enhance security measures at schools, workplaces, and public areas nationwide. Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the president expressed deep sadness over the incident, stating that "anybody, especially the parents of the victims, will feel sad and terrified." Philippine National Police have urged the public to remain calm and cooperate with investigators by providing any information that may aid the ongoing probe.
Authorities continue to investigate how the minors obtained the firearms and whether any additional individuals may face charges related to the weapons' origins. The suspects are expected to remain in custody as the investigation proceeds through juvenile justice proceedings.