At least three students were killed and seven others injured after two teenage students opened fire inside San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, located in the southeastern Philippines, authorities reported on Monday. The suspects, aged 14 and 15, reportedly fired their weapons randomly within the school premises, causing panic and fear among students and staff.
Police confirmed the firearms used included a 9mm Glock pistol and a .38-caliber revolver. Investigations revealed that the Glock pistol was registered to a police officer who has since been taken into custody and is under investigation, while the revolver is owned by a security agency based in Cebu City in the central Philippines. Over 40 spent shell casings were collected from the scene. Authorities have not yet confirmed how the firearms were obtained or brought into the school.
Following the incident, one of the suspects was immediately apprehended, while the other later surrendered. Both minors have been turned over to social welfare authorities and are undergoing questioning in the presence of their parents. Initial interviews suggest that the attack may have been motivated by bullying that the two students allegedly endured since seventh grade, though investigators are still working to establish the full sequence of events and details behind the shooting.
The injured students were transported to nearby medical facilities, though no updates have been provided on their conditions. In response to the shooting, additional police personnel have been deployed at the school to stabilize the situation and protect students, staff, and parents.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed his sadness over the incident and called for a thorough investigation. He directed law enforcement to strengthen security measures at public venues, with particular emphasis on educational institutions. The Department of Education classified the event as a “high-alert situation” and stated that officials from central and regional offices were actively coordinating with local authorities to secure the school.
School shootings remain extremely rare in the Philippines, a country with strict gun ownership laws that include background checks and psychological assessments. Despite this, illegal firearms circulate in parts of the country. The recent incident comes just weeks after schools reopened following a prolonged break.
The shooting also recalled a 2022 incident at Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City, where three people, including a former mayor, were killed during a law school graduation ceremony. That event was later determined to be an assassination driven by personal motives rather than random violence.
Meanwhile, video footage widely circulated on social media showed children screaming and hiding inside classrooms as gunfire erupted outside. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances, while ensuring heightened security presence in schools across the region.