A shooting occurred inside a high school in Tacloban City, Philippines, causing 3 deaths and 5 injuries. Police have initially arrested one suspect, while another remains at large and is being pursued.
The Philippine National Police Region 8 and Tacloban City Police Station reported the shooting incident at approximately 09:00 today (22 Jun) at San Jose National High School in the San Jose district of Tacloban City, Leyte. The attack resulted in 3 fatalities and 5 injuries. This incident is among the bloodiest school violence cases the city has seen in recent years.
A video shared with ABS-CBN News showed chaotic scenes with teachers and students fleeing the school in panic. Some were crying in fear, and a group of students helped carry an injured female student to a hospital.
Police patrol officers quickly contained the situation and secured the area after receiving the report. They arrested one suspect at the scene, described as a "child and youth alleged to have committed a legal offense" in San Jose district. The suspect is now in police custody undergoing juvenile legal procedures. Authorities revealed another suspect escaped and is currently being actively pursued by police.
All five injured were urgently transported to nearby hospitals and medical facilities. The authorities have not disclosed the identities or names of the deceased and injured to the public as family notifications are still in progress.
Tacloban City Police and Region 8 Police Command issued a joint statement strongly condemning the shooting. They have deployed additional officers to ensure the safety of students, teachers, and the surrounding community. They also urged the public to remain calm and refrain from sharing unverified information.
The police statement said, "We assure the public that we are working closely with relevant agencies and school officials to maintain order and prevent such incidents from happening again. Anyone with useful information is encouraged to report to authorities immediately."
The motive and relationships between the suspects and victims remain under investigation. Following the incident, authorities ordered an immediate suspension of classes at three nearby schools: San Jose Central Elementary School, Manlurip Elementary School, and San Jose National High School, to ensure maximum safety for students and staff.