Tacloban city, in the north‑central Philippines, witnessed a tragedy when two teenagers who had been bullied opened fire inside San Jose National High School. Three students were killed and three others wounded, according to police.
Investigators say the shooters, aged 14 and 15, acted out of a "grudge" stemming from school bullying. The older boy was arrested soon after the incident, while the younger man surrendered later.
The perpetrators were armed with a .38 revolver and a 9‑mm pistol that belonged to a policewoman who is now in custody. Roughly 40 empty shells were recovered at the scene, and footage of one teen firing a gun was found on social media.
Police spokesperson Colonel Allen Rae Co warned that red flags in teenagers’ behaviour had been missed and could have prevented the crime. He called for better monitoring of potential warning signs.
Parents of victims demanded that gun owners be held accountable for allowing firearms to reach the children. Jennelyn Badoria, mother of a slain 15‑year‑old, said offenders should be prosecuted.
The incident marks the first school shooting in Tacloban in recent memory. City police chief Evalyn Diaz urged parents to store guns safely and inform children about firearm dangers.
President Ferdinand Marcos’s spokesperson expressed sorrow over the event. The education ministry issued a statement of "deep concern" and announced a review of school security, bullying policies, and student monitoring systems.
Gun violence has been declining nationwide, with 5,000 cases recorded by 2024. Tacloban, with a 250,000‑person population, reflects broader regional struggles following the Typhoon Haiyan disaster.
