Two gunmen killed three students and wounded seven others at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, Leyte province, on Monday morning, marking a rare school shooting in the Philippines. The incident occurred at 9 a.m. as students gathered for class, with social media footage showing children hiding as multiple shots rang out.
Suspects Arrested, Firearms Seized
Tacloban City Police confirmed the casualties and announced the arrest of two suspects, aged 15 and 14, who were identified as students. Authorities seized the firearms allegedly used in the attack: a revolver and a 9 mm Glock pistol. Initial investigation indicated that the shooting “may have stemmed from a personal grudge allegedly rooted in school bullying,” according to police.
Shock and Anger Among Parents
The attack sent shockwaves across the Philippines, where no school shooting incidents have been recorded in recent history. “It’s very distressing. Are our youths copying their American counterparts?” asked Patricio Capuli from Pasay City. “The mere fact that students in high school are planning to bring in firearms, ammunition and murder their fellow students is very, very alarming.” Capuli referred to viral footage showing the arrested students brandishing weapons on social media. “How did that happen? The suspects, have you seen their pictures? The kids were so proud of having gotten those firearms. They’re brandishing them in social media. How did two teenagers carry high-powered weapons inside a schoolroom without the guards noticing it? As a parent, I find it very, very odd … I find the response time of the authorities very slow considering that three people were killed.”
Government Response and Calls for Action
The Philippine Department of Education described the shooting as a “high-alert situation” and said it was “working hand-in-hand with relevant government agencies to deploy critical medical assistance and appropriate psychosocial interventions for the affected learners and personnel.” Naz Romano, school administrator at a public high school in Romblon province, told Arab News the incident should be a “wake-up call” for the Department of Education regarding school security and clear policies on bullying. “When we were younger, bullying was often seen as teasing or jokes. Sometimes there were arguments or even fights, but afterwards, students would usually make up and move on. But today, the situation is much more serious,” he said. “This is the first time we have heard of a school shooting incident in the Philippines. We often hear about these incidents in the United States, but now something similar has happened here … It is really worrying because even students no longer seem safe in schools.”
