In Tacloban city, Philippines, two students initiated a tragic shooting spree at San Jose National High School on Monday, June 22, 2026. Armed with handguns, they killed three fellow students and injured seven others. Police quickly apprehended the suspects, aged 14 and 15.
Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy, the regional police chief, reported that both attackers and victims were students of the school, which houses over 1,500 students. The motives are under investigation, though initial inquiries reveal the shooters felt bullied at school. There are no prior criminal records for either suspect.
One of the boys acquired his 9 mm pistol from an aunt, a police officer, currently facing inquiry, while the other used a cal. 38 revolver. Due to insufficient security, the firearms entered the premises easily, as there was only one guard monitoring the entrances.
Following the assault, around 40 shell casings were retrieved. Videos taken by students show chaotic scenes with gunfire echoing outside classrooms, students hiding and calling parents in panic.
Law enforcement captured one suspect on campus post-attack, the other was arrested in a nearby residence with the help of local residents. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. demanded a comprehensive investigation while urging for reinforced security in public places.
According to Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro, the President expressed sorrow over the incident. The young suspects are set to be handed over to welfare authorities as they are minors. Under Philippine law, a 14-year-old is not criminally liable unless proven fully aware of their actions and consequences.
While gun crimes are a concern in the Philippines, particularly due to unlicensed arms, school shootings remain scarce. A notable incident in 2022 involved a gunman opening fire at a Manila university, killing three, including an ex-town mayor, before being arrested.
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