TACLOBAN CITY — Three students were killed and five others wounded after two minors allegedly opened fire inside San Jose National High School on Monday morning, June 22, in a shocking act of violence that has left the city reeling and raised serious questions about school security.
The two suspects, identified by authorities as Grade 9 and Grade 10 students of the school, are now in police custody as investigators work to determine the motive behind what is believed to be one of the deadliest school-related shooting incidents ever recorded in Eastern Visayas.
The attack occurred at around 9:20 a.m., barely an hour after classes began at the school, which has more than 1,600 students and over 110 teachers.
Police said three students, aged 16 to 17, were killed in the attack. Two victims died at the scene after sustaining gunshot wounds to the head and back, while a third succumbed to injuries while being transported to a hospital.
Five other students suffered gunshot wounds and were rushed to medical facilities for treatment.
As gunfire echoed across the campus, students and teachers scrambled for cover, turning what had begun as a normal school day into a scene of chaos and fear.
Tacloban City Police Director Col. Noelito Getigan said investigators are still piecing together the circumstances surrounding the attack.
One of the suspects reportedly claimed during initial questioning that he had been a victim of bullying, although authorities have yet to verify the allegation.
“We are still conducting a thorough investigation and gathering statements from witnesses and persons involved,” Getigan said.
Police are also examining whether the shooting had been planned and how the suspects obtained the firearms allegedly used in the attack.
A teacher who handled one of the suspects described him as quiet and socially withdrawn.
“He is a loner. He does not mingle much with his classmates. He was also a repeater,” said the teacher, who requested anonymity.
The teacher said the student remained in Grade 9 despite being of an age that would normally place him in Grade 10.
Authorities are validating all information related to the suspects, including reports regarding their family backgrounds and possible connections that may aid investigators in understanding the circumstances leading to the shooting.
Teachers and students who survived the attack recounted moments of terror as the suspects allegedly moved through portions of the campus carrying firearms.
One teacher said one of the suspects first fired from outside a classroom window before entering the room.
“We all ducked after he started shooting at us,” the teacher said.
Another teacher, Glenn Bazar, said he was conducting a lesson when one of the armed students appeared outside his classroom.
“He pointed the gun at me, which made me immediately drop to the floor for safety. My students were already on the floor crying,” Bazar said.
He said he later saw the suspects moving from one classroom to another while carrying firearms.
For many students, survival meant running without looking back.
“Diane,” a 16-year-old classmate of one of the suspects, said she fled the classroom the moment an opportunity presented itself.
“I ran as fast as I could. Several times I stumbled because I was terrified,” she said.
She sustained minor injuries to both ankles while escaping.
A parent working at the school canteen recalled seeing the suspects carrying what appeared to be handguns shortly before the shooting began.
Moments later, she heard multiple gunshots.
“We were all shocked. We did not know what to do. We tried to hide while worrying about our children,” she said.
Her two sons, aged 14 and 16, managed to escape unharmed.
News of the shooting quickly spread throughout the city, prompting hundreds of parents and guardians to rush to the campus.
Many were seen embracing their children in tears after locating them. Some students emerged from the school grounds barefoot, having abandoned their belongings while fleeing the violence.
The tragedy has renewed concerns over security at public schools.
A teacher who requested anonymity said San Jose National High School has only two security guards despite serving more than 1,600 students.
The school is equipped with closed-circuit television cameras, and investigators have taken custody of footage that may help reconstruct the sequence of events.
Authorities are reviewing the recordings to determine how the firearms entered the campus and whether warning signs may have been missed.
Investigators are also looking into reports that one of the suspects was an active member of the school’s Boy Scouts organization.
Police moved swiftly to arrest the two suspects.
One was reportedly restrained by students, teachers, and parents while attempting to flee the school grounds.
The second suspect was later surrendered to authorities by a neighbor and tricycle driver after police tracked him to a residence located about 200 meters from the school.
Getigan said the suspect did not resist arrest and later admitted involvement in the incident during initial questioning.
Both suspects remain under police custody as authorities prepare the appropriate charges and continue their investigation.
The Department of Education in Eastern Visayas condemned the attack and expressed condolences to the families of the victims.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this unfortunate incident, particularly the learners, personnel, and families who may have experienced fear, trauma, or distress as a result of the situation,” the agency said in a statement.
DepEd Regional Director Salustiano Jimenez said the regional office immediately coordinated with the Philippine National Police, the Tacloban Schools Division Office, and school officials following the incident.
The agency has also partnered with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and other government agencies to provide psychosocial support and assistance to affected students and school personnel.
“The safety, security, and well-being of our learners and personnel remain our highest priority,” DepEd said.
Vice Mayor Raymund Romualdez described the shooting as a tragedy that has deeply shaken the city.
“We are assuring the public that public safety is our main concern and that no similar incident would ever happen again here in Tacloban,” Romualdez said.
He commended police officers for their swift response and said the city government would review existing school security measures and provide assistance to the victims’ families.
Meanwhile, City Social Welfare Officer Chona Bahin said counselors and social workers would conduct debriefing sessions for students, teachers, and parents affected by the tragedy.
“Imagine the trauma experienced by our students and even their parents after this deadly incident,” Bahin said.
Classes at San Jose National High School have been suspended indefinitely while authorities continue their investigation and the school community begins the long process of recovery from a tragedy that has stunned Tacloban City.
JOEY A. GABIETA
