Philippines school shooting leaves three dead

A shooting at Jose Rizal Memorial National High School in Tacloban, Philippines, has resulted in three fatalities and multiple injuries. The victims and the two teenage suspects, aged 14 and 15, were all students at the government-run school, which has over 1,500 students.

Regional police chief Brigadier General Jesus Capoy stated that the suspects, who are friends, initially told investigators they had been subjected to bullying at the school. Both teenagers have no prior criminal records. Authorities are currently investigating how they obtained the nine-millimeter pistol and .38 caliber revolver used in the attack. Capoy explained that the weapons were brought into the school complex because only one guard was stationed at the entrances and exits.

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The suspects, who are friends, told investigators in their initial interrogation that they had been subjected to bullying at the school.

Most of the casualties were female students. While crimes involving firearms are common in the Philippines, partly due to the proliferation of unlicensed weapons, school shootings are relatively rare. In 2022, a man armed with pistols opened fire at a university in Metro Manila before a graduation ceremony, killing a former mayor and two others.

An investigation is underway to determine the motive behind the shooting at the school. Police have apprehended the two teenage suspects.

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The suspects managed to bring the weapons into the school complex because only one guard was on duty at several entrances and exits.