A Monday morning shooting inside San Jose National High School in Tacloban City turned deadly on June 22, 2026, when two teenage students pulled out firearms and opened fire on their classmates, killing three and wounding seven others in what law enforcement officials are calling one of the gravest incidents of school gun violence in Eastern Visayas in recent years. Classes were in full session when the attack began at around 9 a.m.
The Tacloban City Police Office (TCPO) confirmed that eight individuals in total were struck by gunfire during the incident. Three of those wounded succumbed to their injuries, while the remaining seven were rushed to nearby medical facilities for treatment. Authorities have not disclosed the names of any of the victims, citing the need to first notify their families.
Two Teen Suspects Nabbed Within Hours of the Attack
Both individuals suspected of carrying out the shooting — a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old — are now in police custody. The first suspect, a resident of Barangay San Jose and a Grade 9 student at the same school where the shooting took place, was arrested at the school premises shortly after the attack. The second suspect managed to flee but was later tracked down and apprehended in the neighboring Barangay 87, with residents of the area assisting law enforcement in locating him.
Police Regional Office Eastern Visayas (PRO-8) Director Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy credited the civilian community for helping secure the arrest of the second suspect. “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,” Capoy told reporters.
Both suspects, classified as children in conflict with the law, were brought to Tacloban City Police Station 1, where their parents and guardians were present. Brig. Gen. Capoy confirmed that the two would be turned over to the city’s social welfare department in accordance with the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act. Investigators also recovered two firearms from the scene — a .38-caliber revolver and a 9mm pistol.
Bullying Cited as Possible Motive; Investigation Still Ongoing
Early findings by the TCPO suggest the shooting may have been rooted in a “grudge due to school bullying.” Tacloban City police chief Col. Noelito Getigan said investigators are looking closely at whether one of the suspects had been a target of bullying and whether that experience served as the driving motive behind the attack.
Authorities were careful to note, however, that the investigation remains in its early stages and that the precise relationship between the victims and the two suspects had not yet been fully established. The TCPO called on the public to avoid spreading unverified information and to allow investigators to complete their work without interference or premature conclusions.
Class Suspensions Ordered; Police Deployed to Secure Community
In the wake of the shooting, the Tacloban City government suspended 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 officers throughout the vicinity to secure students, teachers, and nearby residents and to prevent any further incidents from occurring.
The visible police presence was also meant to reassure the broader community as investigators worked to piece together the full sequence of events before, during, and after the shooting.
DepEd Raises Alert Level, Sends Psychosocial Teams to School
The Department of Education (DepEd) declared the incident a “high-alert situation” and dispatched medical and psychosocial support teams to Tacloban City to assist students and school staff affected by the trauma of witnessing or surviving the attack. The agency strongly condemned the violence and offered condolences to the families of those who died.
“We strongly condemn this act of violence and extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims,” DepEd said in an official statement, adding that support services had already been mobilized for all affected individuals. The department also urged the public to respect the privacy of the children involved — whether as victims or as suspects — in line with child protection standards.
The deployment of psychosocial teams reflects a growing awareness among education officials of the lasting psychological damage that school violence can inflict on entire school communities, particularly in areas where such events are unusual.
Palace Says Marcos Ordered Full Probe; Police Response Praised
Malacañang confirmed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had directed authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the shooting. Presidential spokesperson Claire Castro told reporters that the Chief Executive was deeply saddened by the incident and that police had “acted quickly” in taking both suspects into custody following the attack. No additional executive directives had been announced at the time of reporting, though the Palace indicated that the national government was closely following developments.
Juvenile Justice Process to Govern Handling of Suspects
Because both suspects are minors, their cases will proceed under the framework established by the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, as amended, which provides that children in conflict with the law are not subject to the same criminal proceedings as adults. The TCPO confirmed that both individuals are expected to be handed over to the Tacloban City Social Welfare and Development Office, which will oversee their custody and determine appropriate intervention programs.
Investigators remain focused on establishing a complete account of the attack, including how the two teenagers managed to bring firearms onto school grounds. No timeline for the conclusion of the investigation has been announced.
Shooting Reignites Debate on School Safety and Anti-Bullying Measures
The June 22, 2026 attack at San Jose National High School has reawakened national conversations about the adequacy of safety protocols in Philippine public schools. Child protection advocates and education groups have raised renewed questions about how minors gain access to firearms, and whether the mechanisms under Republic Act 10627 — the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 — are sufficient to prevent such tragedies from occurring.
As of Monday afternoon, DepEd had not yet issued specific policy changes in response to the shooting. The department’s support teams remained on the ground in Tacloban City to continue assisting those affected by the incident.
This is a developing story. Updates will be added as authorities release further information.
Source: Breaking News Negros Oriental (breakingnewsnegrosoriental.com)
