Three students have been killed and several others injured after two teenage students allegedly opened fire at a high school in Tacloban City, central Philippines. According to police, the suspects, aged 14 and 15, are believed to have carried out the attack over a long-standing grievance related to bullying.
One of the teenagers was arrested shortly after the shooting at San Jose National High School, while the other later surrendered to authorities. Investigators said the pair entered a classroom and opened fire without warning. Three students were killed, while three others sustained gunshot wounds. Four additional students were injured while trying to escape the chaos.
Police recovered about 40 spent shell casings from the scene. The suspects were reportedly armed with a . 38-calibre revolver and a 9mm pistol. Authorities revealed that the 9mm firearm belonged to a policewoman related to one of the suspects, who has since been taken into custody as investigations continue.
National police spokesperson Colonel Allen Rae Co said preliminary findings suggest the attack was motivated by resentment stemming from alleged bullying. He added that investigators are still working to determine whether specific individuals were targeted. Police also disclosed that one of the suspects had previously shared videos on social media showing him handling and firing a gun.
Officials described these posts as warning signs that may have gone unnoticed. The mother of one of the victims called for accountability from those who allowed the teenagers access to firearms, insisting the tragedy could have been prevented if the weapons had been properly secured. Authorities described the shooting as an extremely rare incident in the Philippines, where gun-related crimes occur but school shootings remain uncommon.
President Ferdinand Marcos expressed sadness over the tragedy, while the Department of Education said it was deeply concerned by the incident. The agency announced plans to review school security measures, anti-bullying policies and student behavioural monitoring systems in collaboration with law enforcement agencies. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities seek to establish the full circumstances surrounding the attack.
