Two students armed with handguns opened fire at a high school in the central Philippines on Monday, killing three fellow students and wounding seven others, police said. The suspects, aged 14 and 15, were arrested.
Shooting at San Jose National High School
The shooting occurred mid-morning at San Jose National High School in Tacloban city, which has more than 1,500 students. Regional police chief Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy identified the suspects and victims as students of the government-run school. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the attack.
In initial questioning, the suspects, described as close friends, said they were bullied at school. Capoy did not elaborate. The suspects have no criminal records, and it is unclear how they obtained the 9 mm pistol and .38 caliber revolver used in the attack. They managed to bring the guns onto campus because only one guard was on duty at multiple entrances and exits, Capoy said.
Details of the Attack
Capoy told reporters that the suspects barged into two rooms. After the shooting in the first room, students fled, and the suspects chased some victims into another room. Most of the dead and wounded were female students, he said.
In a video posted online, students hiding under desks in a locked classroom can be heard screaming and weeping as gunshots ring out. Some called their mothers. Other videos show visibly terrified students streaming out of the school campus, some holding and embracing each other.
One suspect was arrested at the school after the attack, while the second fled and hid in a nearby house. Police found him after being alerted by residents.
Official Response
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a thorough investigation and asked law enforcers to boost security in all schools, workplaces, and public areas, according to Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro. “The president was saddened by this incident. Anybody, especially the parents of the victims, will feel sad and terrified,” Castro said.
The national police urged the public to remain calm and cooperate with authorities by providing any information that may aid the ongoing investigation.
Context of Gun Violence in the Philippines
Crimes involving firearms are prevalent in the Philippines, partly due to the proliferation of unlicensed guns, but school shootings are relatively rare. In 2022, a man armed with pistols opened fire at an upscale university in the Manila metropolitan area ahead of a graduation ceremony, killing a former town mayor with whom the suspect had a long-running feud, and two others. The gunman was arrested.
