MANILA, Philippines – Three students were killed and seven others wounded after two teenage students opened fire inside a public high school in the central Philippines on Monday, authorities said, in a rare episode of school violence that has drawn national attention and prompted calls for tighter security measures.
The shooting occurred at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, where both the suspects and victims were enrolled. Regional police chief Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy said the two suspects, aged 14 and 15, were taken into custody following the attack.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a comprehensive investigation into the incident and directed law enforcement agencies to strengthen security at schools, workplaces, and other public spaces, according to Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro.
Investigation Focuses on Motive and Firearms Access
Police said investigators are working to determine what led to the shooting.
During initial questioning, the two suspects reportedly told authorities they had experienced bullying at school, Capoy said. He did not provide additional details regarding those claims.
Officials stated that neither suspect had a criminal record. Authorities are also examining how the firearms were obtained.
According to police, one of the teenagers used a 9mm pistol that had belonged to an aunt who serves as a police officer. The officer is now under investigation. The second suspect was armed with a .38-caliber revolver.
Capoy said the students were able to enter the campus with the weapons because only one security guard was monitoring multiple entrances and exits at the school, which has more than 1,500 students.
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Attack Spread Across Multiple Classrooms
Police said the gunmen entered more than one classroom during the attack.
“The suspects barged into two rooms because after the shooting in the first, the children scampered and the suspects apparently ran after some victims into another room,” Capoy told reporters.
Most of those killed or wounded were female students, according to police. Investigators recovered at least 40 shell casings from the scene.
Videos circulated online appeared to show students sheltering beneath desks while gunfire echoed outside their classroom. Other footage showed frightened students leaving the campus, some embracing one another as they fled.
One suspect was apprehended on school grounds shortly after the shooting. The second fled the campus and hid in a nearby residence before being located by police after local residents alerted authorities.
Government Response
The Philippine government has pledged a full investigation into the attack.
Castro said President Marcos was deeply affected by the incident and expressed sympathy for the victims and their families.
“The president was saddened by this incident. Anybody, especially the parents of the victims, will feel sad and terrified,” Castro said.
Police have urged members of the public to cooperate with investigators and provide any information that may assist the ongoing inquiry.
Following the investigation, the two suspects are expected to be turned over to government welfare authorities because they are minors.
Under Philippine law enacted in 2006, children under the age of 15 are generally exempt from criminal prosecution. Authorities must also determine whether a minor understood the nature and consequences of an offense when assessing criminal liability.
Rare School Violence in the Philippines
While firearm-related crimes remain a persistent concern in the Philippines, often linked to the circulation of unlicensed weapons, shootings inside schools are relatively uncommon.
A previous high-profile campus shooting occurred in 2022 when an armed man opened fire at a university in the Manila metropolitan area ahead of a graduation ceremony. Authorities said the attack killed a former town mayor and two other people. The suspect was later arrested.
The latest shooting has renewed scrutiny of school security procedures and access to firearms as investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Tags: Philippines, Tacloban City, School Shooting, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Philippine Police, Public Safety, Education, Firearms
