MANILA, Philippines — Two teenage students opened fire inside a high school in the central Philippines on Monday morning, killing three of their fellow students and injuring seven others, according to police.
The two suspects, ages 14 and 15, each carried a pistol during the attack. Both were taken into custody. Regional police chief Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy confirmed that the suspects and all of their victims were enrolled at San Jose National High School in Tacloban city, where the shooting occurred mid-morning.
Authorities launched an investigation to determine what motivated the attack at the government-run school, which serves more than 1,500 students. Capoy said the two suspects, who were reportedly close friends, told investigators during initial questioning that they had been bullied at school. He did not provide additional details.
Neither suspect had a prior criminal record, and it remains unclear how they obtained the weapons. Capoy noted that the guns were brought onto campus because only a single security guard was on duty across multiple entry and exit points.
“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.
Capoy added that the majority of those killed and wounded were female students.
One of the suspects was apprehended at the school shortly after the attack. The second fled and took refuge in a nearby home, where he was located after residents alerted police to his whereabouts.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and called on law enforcement to strengthen security measures at schools, workplaces, and public spaces throughout the country, according to Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro.
“The president was saddened by this incident. Anybody, especially the parents of the victims, will feel sad and terrified,” Castro said.
National police urged the public to stay calm and assist investigators by sharing any relevant information tied to the case.
While gun-related crimes are common in the Philippines — largely due to the widespread presence of unlicensed firearms — shootings inside schools remain relatively uncommon.
