Police have arrested all suspects after a shocking school shooting at a Philippine high school, carried out by two male students, resulting in three student deaths and seven injuries.
The incident occurred on Monday morning at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City. The two suspects, aged 14 and 15, were involved; one was arrested inside the school, while the other fled and hid in a nearby house before being caught by police following a tip from local residents.
Brigadier General Jason Capoy, Regional Police Chief, revealed that all perpetrators and victims were students of the school, which has over 1,500 enrolled pupils.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the shooting. The two suspects, who are close friends, initially stated they were bullied at school, though police have not disclosed further details.
Police reported that neither suspect has a prior criminal record. One suspect used a 9mm pistol obtained from his aunt, a police officer, who is currently under investigation. The other suspect used a .38 caliber revolver.
Officials noted that the perpetrators were able to bring weapons into the school because multiple entrances and exits were each guarded by only a single security officer.
Brigadier General Capoy said the suspects entered two classrooms; after shooting in the first room, students fled in panic, but the attackers pursued some into a second classroom and continued shooting.
Most of the deceased and injured were female students. Police recovered at least 40 bullet casings from the scene.
Videos circulated online showed students hiding under desks inside locked classrooms, with screams and crying audible, while gunfire sounded outside. Some students called their mothers seeking help.
Other videos showed frightened students running out of the school, some embracing each other for comfort.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered a thorough investigation and instructed authorities to strengthen security measures in schools, workplaces, and public areas nationwide.
Claire Castro, Deputy Secretary of the Philippine Department of Communications, said the President expressed deep sorrow over the incident, especially for the families of the deceased and injured who faced trauma.
Since both suspects are minors, authorities will hand them over to the child and youth welfare agency for legal proceedings after the investigation concludes.
Under the 2006 Philippine law, children under 15 years old are exempt from criminal liability unless officials determine the child fully understands the nature and consequences of their actions.
Philippine police urged the public to remain calm, cooperate with authorities, and provide any information that may assist the investigation.
Although the Philippines struggles with widespread illegal firearms leading to frequent gun-related crimes, school shootings remain relatively rare.
Previously, in 2022, an armed man attacked a prestigious university in metropolitan Manila before a graduation ceremony, killing a former local mayor and two others over a personal dispute; the gunman was later arrested.
Source:AP
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