Filipino Student Shooting at Tacloban School Leaves Three Dead and Seven Injured

Tacloban: A tragic shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban, Leyte Province, has left the community reeling after three people were killed and seven others injured. The incident occurred today at approximately 9:00 a.m. local time, disrupting the usual school day for over 1,500 students.

According to Thai News Agency, the attack was carried out by two male suspects, both ninth-grade students, who entered the school armed with firearms and opened fire inside classrooms. The chaos prompted teachers and students to scramble for cover, as documented in videos circulating on social media. The suspects, aged 15 and 14, were apprehended shortly after the incident. The younger suspect was detained at the school, while his accomplice attempted to flee but was later captured by police. Authorities recovered a Glock pistol and a .38 caliber handgun at the scene, along with more than 40 spent shell casings.

The presidential spokesperson confirmed the arrests and condemned the violence, emphasizing the government's commitment to supporting affected students and staff with medical and psychological assistance. The motive behind the shooting is under investigation, but initial findings suggest that the perpetrators had been victims of bullying since grade 7. The local police chief indicated that the gunmen may have been seeking a specific individual, leading to the indiscriminate firing into two classrooms. Investigations are ongoing to determine how the suspects accessed and transported firearms into the school.