The devastating school shooting in Tacloban City, Philippines, has left three students dead and several others injured, highlighting the tragic consequences of unchecked bullying and lax gun control measures. According to authorities, the attack at San Jose National High School was sparked by a long-standing grudge linked to bullying, with two classmates, aged 14 and 15, opening fire in a classroom.
Police have identified the suspects and arrested one, while the second surrendered shortly after. The attackers were armed with a .38 revolver and a 9mm pistol, which was found to belong to a policewoman who is a relative of one of the suspects; she has since been taken into custody.
National police spokesperson Colonel Allen Rae Co stated that the two suspects 'went straight to the classroom' and 'started firing without saying anything', with the motive appearing to be a grudge for school bullying. It remains unclear whether specific individuals were targeted, although 40 empty shell casings were recovered from the scene.
In addition to the three fatalities, three people suffered gunshot wounds, and four others were injured in the ensuing panic. Colonel Co also highlighted that 'red flags' in the teens' behaviour had been missed, potentially preventing the tragedy, with violent videos of one of the teens firing a gun discovered on their social media.
President Ferdinand Marcos's spokeswoman expressed the president's sadness, and the education ministry conveyed 'deep concern', announcing a joint review with police into school security protocols, bullying policies, and student behavioural monitoring systems. The authorities have urged firearm owners to be more responsible and engage in dialogue with their children about gun safety.
According to Philippine National Police data, there has been a steady decline in gun violence cases in recent years, with close to 5,000 cases recorded nationwide in 2024. This incident marks the first school shooting in Tacloban City in recent memory, and it remains to be seen whether it will prompt meaningful changes in the country's approach to gun control and student wellbeing.