The school shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, which left three students dead and 20 others injured, was meticulously planned over several weeks by two teenage suspects, Philippine police revealed on Wednesday. The attack, which occurred on Monday morning, has prompted heightened security across educational institutions in the city.
Shooting Details and Victims
The two suspects, aged 15 and 14, both students at the school, fired at least 34 rounds during the incident. Three of their peers were killed, and 15 others suffered gunshot wounds. An additional five children sustained injuries not caused by gunfire, according to the Philippine National Police investigation. The attack sent shockwaves across the country, as no similar incident has been recorded in recent Philippine history.
Premeditation and Motive
Police spokesperson Col. Allen Rae Co stated, "All indications point to the fact that it was really planned." He added, "Initially, it appears that the motive of the crime was a grudge for school bullying." Eastern Visayas Police chief Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy said investigators believe the suspects may have been planning the attack for more than a month and were aware of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act. "They had been planning for it since April or May," he said, according to the Philippine News Agency. "It’s alarming that they are familiar with the law."
Weapons and Legal Implications
The 14-year-old suspect is believed to have used a Glock service firearm belonging to his police officer aunt, who was relieved of duty following the attack. The 15-year-old allegedly used a .38 caliber revolver owned by his grandfather, a former security guard. Most of the shots fired during the attack came from the Glock. Under Philippine law, children 15 years old and below are exempt from criminal liability but can be subject to intervention programs.
Security Measures and Social Media Monitoring
Police and the Department of Education tightened security at schools across the city as educational institutions reopened on Wednesday. Additional inspections have been conducted at "other places of convergence, including churches, transport terminals, malls and public spaces, particularly during school opening and dismissal hours," according to the Police Regional Office Negros Island Region. "Intelligence units have been tasked to enhance open-source intelligence and social media monitoring to validate reports of threats and alarming online posts." Viral footage shared on social media this week showed the suspects displaying their weapons before the attack.
