What we know so far about the Tacloban school shooting
Three students died and 20 others were left wounded in a school shooting in Tacloban City, allegedly carried out by two minors.
The shooting occurred a little past 9 a.m. on June 22 during classes at San Jose National High School. In the aftermath, classes were suspended at the high school, as well as nearby San Jose Central School and Manlurip Elementary School.
According to the Tacloban City Police Office, the injured victims received immediate assistance and were transported to medical facilities for treatment. Among the 20 injured, 15 remain hospitalized for firearm-related injuries, while five sustained non-firearm-related injuries.
Eyewitness accounts
In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Grade 10 TLE teacher Glenn Bazar said he was conducting a class when he heard gunshots. He stepped outside the classroom and saw the one of the two suspected shooters firing indiscriminately at other rooms. As the gunmen approached, he instructed his students to lie flat on the floor for safety.
When one of the suspects reached his classroom, Bazar said the student fired at him but missed. The shattered windows and nearby objects made him realize the firearm was loaded with live ammunition, prompting him to take cover.
Another teacher, 52-year-old social studies instructor Irvin Nogar, told AFP that he spotted a shooter heading toward his room.
"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 shared online in the aftermath of the shooting showed students fleeing the campus in distress, with many seen screaming and crying. One injured student was also seen being carried by classmates to seek assistance.
Suspects arrested
Two suspects, alias Nash, 14, and Rod, 15, have been arrested. One was apprehended immediately after the incident, while the other was arrested hours later following a hot pursuit and intensive manhunt operation.
Department of Education Undersecretary Malcolm Garma said initial findings showed that the suspects were able to get past security personnel stationed at the school's main gate before carrying out the attack.
"The two perpetrators were able to enter the school premises through the fence. They did not pass through the main gate. The main gate is basically being manned by two security guards," Garma told ANC.
According to police and media reports, the two weapons used in the attack were a 9mm Glock pistol and a .38-caliber revolver. The Glock, which was recovered alongside two extra magazines, had been issued to a female PRO-8 police officer who is reportedly the aunt of one of the suspects.
In an interview with DZMM, PCol. Allen Rae Co said that investigators reviewing social media posts found indications that one of the suspects may have learned how to use a firearm from his aunt, a police officer. He said the aunt has been relieved from her post while authorities investigate how her nephew gained access to her firearm.
Meanwhile, the .38-caliber revolver was registered to a security agency in Cebu City. The suspect managed to fire only a single shot from it before being apprehended.
The police believe that the school shooting was planned. Eastern Visayas police chief Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy said investigators have determined that the suspects had been preparing for the attack for several weeks.
"Based on our information, as early as May 1, kung hindi ako nagkakamali. April or May pa nilang pinagplanuhan," Capoy said in a phone interview with Camp Crame reporters, per Philippine News Agency report.
He also expressed concern over reports that the suspects planned how to smuggle firearms into the school and knew the provisions of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act.
'A random sporadic shooting'
During a press briefing on Monday, Co said initial findings suggest the attack may have been motivated by a grudge related to alleged school bullying.
"Intiallly, it appears that the motive of the crime is grudge for school bullying," Co said.
However, Garma said authorities have not found evidence linking the shooting to bullying allegations.
"At this point, we cannot establish that they are victims of bullying," he said. "Based on the initial reports that we got from the Philippine National Police, there were allegedly conversations between the two perpetrators really planning the attack weeks ahead," he added.
Garma also said investigators determined that the suspects did not appear to be targeting any specific individual.
"So it was really a random sporadic shooting as soon as they got within the premises of the school," he said.
The suspects remain under police custody and are undergoing questioning with parental guidance before being turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for further processing.
Per a report by the Philippine STAR, investigators found that one of the suspects in the Tacloban school shooting had been playing a "violent" online game before the incident.
"As per investigation natin, Gorebox," PRO-8 director Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy said in a phone interview. Capoy described the game as similar to Roblox but noted that it features shooting and firearms.
"Yes, just like Roblox, may laro may shooting, shooting din mga ganung firearms. Medyo bayolente po ‘yung laro," Capoy said.
Government provides aid, probe into the incident
The Department of Social Welfare and Development, DepEd, and local government units are coordinating to provide immediate relief to the victims and their families.
The DSWD has already provided psychological first aid to students, parents, and other individuals, while also giving cash assistance to nine of the injured victims. DepEd assured families of continuous trauma recovery services and financial support as they work to restore the campus as a safe learning environment.
Meanwhile, the DILG has ordered the PNP to thoroughly investigate the security breach and review school safety protocols nationwide.
Moving forward, DepEd Chief Sonny Angara said schools may need to revise their emergency protocols, including procedures for responding to active threats, similar to existing fire and earthquake drills.
