Three students killed, seven injured in school shooting in Philippines

Three students were killed and seven others injured after two teenage students allegedly opened fire inside a public high school in Tacloban City on Monday, in a rare school shooting that has stunned the Philippines.

The incident occurred around 9 a.m. local time at San Jose National High School in Leyte Province, sending students and teachers scrambling for safety as gunshots echoed through the campus.

Police authorities confirmed that the three fatalities—two female students and one male student—died from gunshot wounds sustained during the attack. Seven other students, comprising four females and three males, were injured and taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. Authorities said all the wounded victims are in stable condition.

According to the Police Regional Office in Eastern Visayas, the suspected gunmen, aged 14 and 15, are Grade 9 students and close friends who attend the same school.

The first suspect was apprehended on campus shortly after the shooting, while the second fled the scene but was later arrested following a manhunt involving police officers and local residents.

Investigators recovered a Glock 9mm pistol and a .38-caliber revolver believed to have been used in the attack. Authorities are currently tracing the origin and ownership of the firearms, including determining whether they may have belonged to law enforcement personnel.

Preliminary investigations suggest the attack may have been linked to allegations of prolonged bullying. Police Regional Director Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy said the suspects claimed they had experienced persistent bullying since their early years in secondary school.

Speaking during a press briefing, Capoy noted that the students who were shot may not have been the intended targets.

“Based on initial findings, the victims who were hit were not necessarily the individuals the suspects had intended to confront,” he said, adding that the suspects allegedly fired indiscriminately after entering the classroom.

The shooting prompted local authorities to suspend classes at San Jose National High School and two nearby elementary schools as security agencies launched a full investigation.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed grief over the tragedy and directed relevant agencies to conduct a thorough inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the attack.

The Department of Education classified the incident as a high-alert situation and deployed crisis response teams to provide medical, psychological and emotional support to affected students, teachers and families.

As both suspects are minors, authorities have withheld their identities in accordance with Philippine juvenile justice laws. They are expected to be placed under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development while legal proceedings continue.

The shooting has reignited concerns about school safety and access to firearms in a country where such incidents are uncommon, prompting renewed calls for stronger preventive measures and mental health support for students.