Tacloban city: Malaca±ang on Monday said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. was saddened by the fatal shooting inside a public high school in Tacloban City that left three people dead and five others injured, ordering authorities to conduct a thorough investigation of the incident. 'Ikinalulungkot ng Pangulo ang pangyayari. Kahit sino pa man, lalo na ang mga magulang ng mga nabiktima, ay makakaramdam ng lungkot at takot (The President regrets the incident. Anyone, especially the parents of the victims, will feel sadness and fear),' Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a statement.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Police Regional Office-8 (PRO-8) reported that the shooting occurred at around 9 a.m. inside San Jose National High School in Barangay San Jose, Tacloban City. Initial police reports showed three persons were killed while five others sustained injuries and were brought to nearby hospitals for treatment. Castro said the President has directed authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation and ensure public safety, particularly in schools.
Police said one suspect, identified as a child in conflict with the law (CICL) and a resident of Barangay San Jose, was apprehended shortly after the incident. A second suspect who initially fled the scene was later arrested. The Tacloban City Police Office and PRO-8 are continuing their investigation to determine the motive behind the shooting.
For his part, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said he wants a "full investigation" into the incident. "I expect a full investigation into this incident that will focus on the circumstances that led to this incident - from what prompted these minors to do this and how they were able to get these firearms," he said in a statement. Nartatez said he already tasked police investigators to coordinate with the parents and school officials in the conduct of the investigation in order to get all the necessary information in relation to the incident.
He added that they will also coordinate with the Department of Education to come up with measures for the protection of the students, teachers, and other personnel of all schools in the country. Based on the existing protocol, policemen are not allowed entry into any school unless approved by school authorities. In a phone interview with reporters, PRO-8 director Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy said the two suspects, aged 14 and 15 years old, are already in police custody. He said investigators are looking into reports that the two were victims of bullying. The two suspects are set to be turned over to the City Social Welfare and Development.
Meanwhile, the shooting triggered calls from senators for stronger school safety measures, tighter firearms oversight, and proper enforcement of juvenile justice laws. Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian described the incident as a disturbing sign of escalating violence inside educational institutions. 'Hindi katanggap-tanggap na umaabot ang ganitong klaseng karahasan sa mga paaralang dapat nagsisilbing ligtas na espasyo (It is unacceptable that this kind of violence has reached schools that should serve as safe spaces),' Gatchalian said.
Sen. Kiko Pangilinan said the suspects should not be released despite being minors, stressing that they must undergo the process set under the Juvenile Justice law. 'Hindi pwedeng pakawalan ang mga suspek kahit menor de edad. Dapat dumaan sila sa prosesong itinakda ng batas (The suspects cannot simply be released even if they are minors. They must undergo the process set by law),' Pangilinan said. Sen. JV Ejercito, meanwhile, called for a thorough investigation into how minors gained access to firearms used in the attack, saying authorities should determine whether gun laws were violated and hold registered firearm owners accountable if warranted.
Sen. Mark Villar echoed calls for stronger protection measures in schools, saying parents and students should never have to fear for their safety while classes are ongoing. The tragedy revived discussions on juvenile justice reforms, with Sen. Robinhood Padilla questioning whether Congress should convene a special session to tackle amendments to the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act amid recent crimes involving minors.
