A Monday morning gun attack inside a public high school in Tacloban City left three students dead and seven others wounded, shocking the Eastern Visayas region and drawing condemnation from national officials after two teenage suspects — both enrolled at the same school — opened fire during regular class hours on June 22, 2026.
The violence erupted at around 9 a.m. inside San Jose National High School, located in Barangay San Jose, Tacloban City, according to the Tacloban City Police Office (TCPO). Classes were in full session when the attack began. A total of ten people were struck by gunfire — three of whom succumbed to their wounds, while seven survivors were rushed to nearby medical facilities for treatment.
Two Grade 9 Students Identified as Suspects
Both individuals taken into custody following the shooting are Grade 9 students at San Jose National High School itself — the same school where the attack occurred. The suspects are aged 14 and 15, respectively. In keeping with legal protections for minors under Philippine law, and pending proper notification of the victims' families, authorities have withheld the names of both the perpetrators and those killed or injured.
The TCPO confirmed that two firearms were recovered from the scene: a .38-caliber revolver and a 9mm pistol. How the teenage suspects obtained these weapons is among the key questions investigators are now pursuing.
One Caught at School, Another Nabbed in Nearby Barangay
The first suspect was apprehended on school grounds within minutes of the shooting and is classified as a child in conflict with the law. The second suspect managed to flee the campus but did not get far — residents in the Barangay San Jose area assisted police in tracking him down, and he was eventually arrested in the adjacent Barangay 87.
Police Regional Office Eastern Visayas (PRO-8) Director Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy credited this civilian cooperation as central to the rapid resolution of the manhunt. Speaking to reporters, Capoy explained: "As to the first culprit, our suspect here, right after the incident, we caught him in the school. Some neighbors, some civilians, voluntarily looked for the child suspect. That's how they managed to call the police and we caught him soon after."
Both suspects were subsequently brought to Tacloban City Police Station 1, where their parents and guardians were present. Brig. Gen. Capoy confirmed they would be transferred to the city social welfare department in accordance with the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act.
Bullying Cited as Likely Motive; Investigation Continuing
In its initial report, the TCPO indicated the attack appeared to have stemmed from a "grudge due to school bullying." Tacloban City police chief Col. Noelito Getigan said investigators are looking into whether one of the suspects had been a target of bullying, which may have driven the attack.
Authorities were careful to stress that no definitive conclusions have been reached. The exact nature of the relationship between the suspects and the victims has not yet been fully established, and the inquiry remains active. Police have appealed to the public to avoid spreading unverified information and to refrain from making premature judgments while the investigation is still ongoing.
Class Suspensions Ordered; Additional Police Deployed
In the hours immediately following the shooting, the Tacloban City government ordered the suspension of classes at three schools in the affected area: San Jose National High School, San Jose Central School, and Manlurip Elementary School. PRO-8 deployed additional personnel to secure the campuses and surrounding neighborhoods, aiming to prevent further incidents and to provide reassurance to students, teaching staff, and nearby residents.
DepEd Declares High Alert, Sends Psychosocial Teams
The Department of Education (DepEd) responded swiftly, declaring the incident a "high-alert situation" and mobilizing medical and psychosocial support teams to Tacloban City to assist traumatized students and school employees. In an official statement, DepEd expressed strong condemnation of the violence and offered condolences to the bereaved families.
"We strongly condemn this act of violence and extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims," DepEd said, adding that support services had already been mobilized for all those affected by the tragedy.
Education officials also called on the public to respect the privacy of all children involved — both those who were victimized and those accused — recognizing the sensitivity of the case given the minors' ages.
Marcos Orders Full Investigation; Palace Notes Swift Arrests
At the national level, Malacañang confirmed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed deep sadness over the shooting and directed authorities to conduct a thorough investigation. Presidential spokesperson Claire Castro told reporters that the police had "acted quickly" in securing the arrest of both teenage suspects following the attack. No additional executive directives were disclosed at the time of reporting, though the Palace statement made clear that the national government is closely following developments.
Juvenile Justice Process to Govern Handling of Suspects
Because both suspects are minors, their cases will be governed by the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, as amended — legislation that provides for separate legal processes and intervention programs for children in conflict with the law, rather than standard criminal prosecution applicable to adults. The two are expected to be formally turned over to the Tacloban City Social Welfare and Development Office, which will supervise their custody and determine appropriate rehabilitation measures.
The recovery of two firearms from the scene has raised broader questions about how minors were able to gain access to weapons — a concern now being examined as part of the ongoing inquiry by the TCPO. No timeline for the conclusion of the investigation has been announced.
Shooting Renews Debate on School Safety and Anti-Bullying Laws
The June 22, 2026 attack at San Jose National High School is being described as among the gravest incidents of gun violence inside a school campus recorded in Eastern Visayas in recent years. The tragedy has reignited public discussion about the adequacy of safety measures in Philippine public schools, with education advocates, law enforcement officials, and child welfare organizations calling for stricter security protocols.
Child protection groups have also raised pointed questions about youth access to firearms and whether existing mechanisms under Republic Act 10627 — the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 — are sufficient to prevent school conflicts from escalating to lethal violence. As of Monday afternoon, DepEd had not yet announced specific policy responses directly tied to the Tacloban shooting, though psychosocial and medical teams remained on the ground in the city.
This is a developing story. Updates will be published as additional information is released by authorities.
Originally reported by: Breaking News Negros Oriental (breakingnewsnegror.com)