In brief
In a tragic event at San Jose National High School in Tacloban city, two teenagers with a 15‑year‑old suspect and a 14‑year‑old accomplice opened fire, killing three students and leaving three wounded. Investigators say a grudge over school bullying drove the attackers, who used a .38 revolver and a 9mm pistol that belonged to a police officer relative. The 15‑year‑old was arrested shortly after the incident while the second surrendered later. Authorities and the education ministry have called for stricter gun‑ownership checks, enhanced bullying policies, and tighter student monitoring. President Marcos’s spokesperson expressed sympathy, and the incident has spurred a review of school security protocols citywide.
Tacloban city, in the north‑central Philippines, witnessed a tragedy when two teenagers who had been bullied opened fire inside San Jose National High School. Three students were killed and three others wounded, according to police.
Investigators say the shooters, aged 14 and 15, acted out of a "grudge" stemming from school bullying. The older boy was arrested soon after the incident, while the younger man surrendered later.
The perpetrators were armed with a .38 revolver and a 9‑mm pistol that belonged to a policewoman who is now in custody. Roughly 40 empty shells were recovered at the scene, and footage of one teen firing a gun was found on social media.
Police spokesperson Colonel Allen Rae Co warned that red flags in teenagers’ behaviour had been missed and could have prevented the crime. He called for better monitoring of potential warning signs.
Parents of victims demanded that gun owners be held accountable for allowing firearms to reach the children. Jennelyn Badoria, mother of a slain 15‑year‑old, said offenders should be prosecuted.
The incident marks the first school shooting in Tacloban in recent memory. City police chief Evalyn Diaz urged parents to store guns safely and inform children about firearm dangers.
President Ferdinand Marcos’s spokesperson expressed sorrow over the event. The education ministry issued a statement of "deep concern" and announced a review of school security, bullying policies, and student monitoring systems.
Gun violence has been declining nationwide, with 5,000 cases recorded by 2024. Tacloban, with a 250,000‑person population, reflects broader regional struggles following the Typhoon Haiyan disaster.
