Students 'crying and in panic': Teachers recount Tacloban school shooting
A little past 9 a.m. on June 22, two minors shot at students and teachers at San Jose National High School in Tacloban, killing at least three people and leaving others injured. Police found over 40 empty shells at the scene. Both suspects were arrested soon after the incident.
While authorities conduct their investigation, two teachers who were in the school while the shooting occurred recalled how the situation unfolded.
Speaking to ABS CBN News, Glenn Bazar, a Grade 10 TLE teacher, said he was conducting a class when he heard continuous gunfire.
"Sunod-sunod na 'yung putukan. Nag-try na 'kong lumabas sa classroom while having my classes," Bazar said. "'Yun 'yung nakita ko... 'yung dalawang bata."
"'Yung isa, putok nang putok sa mga classroom, bawat na nadadaanan niya," Bazar recalled. "Palapit na sila nang palapit, so nag-advise na 'ko sa mga bata na, 'Dapa na lang kayo. Parang iba na 'to, eh.'"
When one of the suspects got to Bazar's classroom, he shot at Bazar but missed.
"Doon ko na-realize na live bullets pala 'yung dala niyang baril kasi nga nabasag 'yung jalousie, nabasag 'yung item na nasa malapit ko, tapos 'yung sa kabilang glass window namin, basag din," said Bazar, who immediately dropped on the floor for cover.
"Nu'ng dumapa na 'ko, pumasok pa rin 'yung bata, tapos sabay nag-iwan ng isang putok. Doon nadali 'yung isang [estudyante], natamaan po sa kamay," he added.
Fifty-two-year-old Irvin Nogar, who teaches social studies at the school, told AFP he was also in the middle of class when he heard "loud gun shots."
"I saw a shooter walking towards our area, so I told the students to be calm and hide under their desks, and I locked the door... They were crying and in panic," Nogar said.
Videos of the shooting aftermath, shared by the public, show scenes of chaos, with students running, screaming, and crying outside the school. At least one student who was apparently injured was seen being carried by her classmates toward help.
One video, circulating on social media and shared by CNA, showed a scene inside one of the classrooms as the shooting was taking place. Students could be heard screaming and crying as the camera pointed at the closed classroom door.
The PNP has called for calm and asked the public not to share unverified information about the incident. The police force also assured students and parents of its unmitigated support and protection.
"To our students—you deserve to feel safe in your schools. To our parents—we hear your concerns and we share them. And to those who would bring harm into our learning institutions—the full force of the law awaits you," they said said in a statement released on June 22. "Our schools must remain sanctuaries of learning, not scenes of violence. The PNP will not rest until every child can walk through their school gates without fear."
