Bloodbath in Philippine High School: 3 Dead, 7 Wounded as Students Open Fire
Two students, aged 14 and 15, unleashed terror in a high school in the central Philippines, killing three fellow students and injuring seven others. The shooting erupted at San Jose National High School in Tacloban city, where the suspects and victims were all students.
The suspects were arrested on the scene. Initial investigations revealed that they claimed to have been bullied, but details remain sparse. Regional police chief Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy confirmed that both suspects had no prior criminal records.
One suspect obtained a 9 mm pistol from an aunt, a police officer now under investigation. The other wielded a .38 caliber revolver registered to a security agency based in Cebu City. This raises serious questions about firearm access and accountability.
Capoy noted that the suspects managed to smuggle the firearms onto campus due to inadequate security—only one guard was stationed at multiple entrances and exits. This glaring oversight allowed the tragedy to unfold.
After firing in one classroom, the suspects pursued fleeing students into another room, escalating the horror. Most of the casualties were female students, with police recovering at least 40 shell casings from the scene.
Videos from the incident show students cowering under desks, screaming and crying as gunfire erupted outside. Some desperately called their mothers while others fled the campus in sheer panic.
One suspect was apprehended immediately after the attack, while the other fled and hid nearby until residents alerted police to his location. This swift response prevented further chaos.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has demanded a thorough investigation into the shooting and called for heightened security measures across schools and public spaces. Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro stated that the president expressed sadness over the incident, emphasizing the emotional toll on victims' families.
Due to their age, the suspects will be handed over to government welfare officers post-investigation. The 14-year-old is shielded from criminal prosecution under a 2006 law that sets the minimum age for criminal liability at 15, contingent on awareness of their actions.
The Philippine National Police urged citizens to remain calm and assist authorities with any information related to the ongoing investigation. Gun violence is rampant in the Philippines, fueled by unlicensed firearms, yet school shootings remain an anomaly.
In a previous incident in 2022, a man opened fire at an upscale university in Manila, killing three individuals during a graduation ceremony. The gunman was arrested following that brazen attack.
