Philippines high school shooting kills 3, wounds 7

Three students were killed and seven others wounded after two students allegedly opened fire inside a high school in the Philippines on Monday.

CBS News reported the shooting occurred at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, southeast of Manila, prompting a major police response and raising concerns about school security in a country where such attacks remain uncommon.

Police said the two suspects, aged 14 and 15, were taken into custody shortly after the attack. Both attended the school, as did the victims.

Three Students Killed in Tacloban School Shooting

Regional police chief Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy said the teenagers were armed with handguns and entered classrooms before opening fire on fellow students.

“The suspects barged into two rooms because after the shooting in the first, the children scampered and the suspects apparently ran after some victims into another room,” Capoy told reporters.

Most of those killed or injured were female students, according to police.

Videos shared online appeared to show students sheltering under desks while gunfire rang out nearby. Other footage showed frightened students leaving the school grounds and comforting one another after the attack.

Two Teenage Suspects Taken Into Custody

Investigators are working to determine a motive, though Capoy said the suspects initially told authorities they had experienced bullying at school.

Police said neither teenager had a criminal record.

One suspect was apprehended on campus shortly after the attack, while the second fled and hid in a nearby house. Residents alerted authorities, leading to his arrest.

Bullying Claims Emerge During Initial Investigation

Authorities have not established a motive for the shooting, but Capoy said the suspects told investigators during initial questioning that they had been bullied.

Police have not released further details about those claims as the investigation continues.

Officials are examining the suspects’ backgrounds, school experiences and access to firearms to determine what led to the attack.

Questions Raised Over How Guns Entered Campus

Police recovered more than 40 spent shell casings from the scene.

National police spokesperson Allen Rae Co said one of the weapons, a 9mm pistol, was registered to a police officer who has since been taken into custody. A second firearm, a .38-calibre revolver, was reportedly registered to a security agency in Cebu City.

Authorities are investigating how the teenagers obtained the guns.

Police also said the suspects were able to bring the weapons onto campus because only one security guard was stationed across multiple entrances and exits.

President Marcos Orders Security Review

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a full investigation and directed law enforcement agencies to strengthen security measures at schools, workplaces and other public locations.

“The president was saddened by this incident. Anybody, especially the parents of the victims, will feel sad and terrified,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said.

The national police have urged the public to remain calm and cooperate with investigators by providing any information that could assist the inquiry.

Rare Case of School Gun Violence in the Philippines

While firearm-related crimes remain a concern in the Philippines, school shootings are relatively rare.

The country has periodically struggled with the proliferation of unlicensed firearms, but attacks inside educational institutions are uncommon compared with other forms of gun violence.

In 2022, a gunman opened fire at a university in the Manila metropolitan area ahead of a graduation ceremony, killing three people before being arrested.

Authorities continue to investigate Monday's shooting as the community mourns the victims and officials assess whether additional school security measures are needed nationwide.