Manila: A tragic shooting at a high school in the central Philippines claimed the lives of three students and left seven others injured on Monday morning after two armed minors allegedly opened fire inside the campus, authorities said.
The incident took place around 9 am local time at the government-run San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, located in Leyte province. According to police, classes were in progress when the two suspects entered the school premises and began shooting indiscriminately.
Authorities said both suspects are Grade 9 students. One of the accused was apprehended shortly after the attack, while the second suspect was arrested several hours later with the help of residents from a nearby community.
The injured victims were rushed to nearby hospitals, while security forces immediately secured the school campus and launched an investigation into the motive behind the attack.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr expressed grief over the incident and ordered a thorough investigation. His spokesperson, Claire Castro, said the president was deeply saddened by the tragedy and stressed the need to ensure the safety of students and the public.
“Anyone, especially the parents of the victims, would feel grief and fear,” Castro told reporters, adding that authorities were implementing additional security measures in public spaces, including schools.
The Department of Education (DepEd) also expressed serious concern over the shooting and said it was coordinating with relevant government agencies to provide medical assistance and psychological support to affected students, school personnel and families.
“We are working hand-in-hand with relevant government agencies to deploy critical medical assistance and appropriate psychosocial interventions for the affected learners and personnel,” the department said in a statement.
The shooting has reignited concerns about school safety in the Philippines. The country witnessed another high-profile shooting incident in 2022 when three people, including a former city mayor, were killed before a graduation ceremony at Ateneo de Manila University. Authorities later determined that attack was motivated by personal reasons.
Investigators are now examining the circumstances that led to Monday’s shooting, while authorities have appealed for calm as the probe continues.
