Three Teenage Students Killed, 5 Injured in Philippine High School Shooting

A tragic shooting incident shook a high school compound in the central Philippines on Monday (June 22), leaving three teenage students dead and five others wounded. The attack took place at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, Leyte province, sending hundreds of students fleeing in panic.

According to local police authorities, two underage male suspects have already been taken into custody. Investigators confirmed that one of the apprehended shooters is a Grade 9 student at the same institution, which accommodates more than 1,500 students.

The attack commenced at around 9:00 AM local time when the two suspects, aged 14 and 15, entered the school premises armed with handguns. Police Lieutenant Evalyn Diaz told reporters that the boys opened fire "randomly" inside the building.

"We are hearing bullying was the motive behind their actions, but we have yet to ask them. They are still in the police station undergoing questioning in the presence of their parents because they are minors. We're still tracking the weapons, checking how they obtained them, and how they were able to bring them inside the school." — Lt. Evalyn Diaz, Police Information Officer

Tacloban Police Chief Noelito Getigan later revealed that the minor suspects utilized a .38-caliber revolver and a 9mm pistol during the assault. One suspect was intercepted by responding units shortly after the incident, while the second shooter voluntarily surrendered to the local police station later in the afternoon.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered a thorough, high-level investigation into the incident, expressing deep sadness over the loss of young lives. The presidential office directed all law enforcement departments to immediately review and reinforce security infrastructure across academic institutions nationwide.

Concurrently, the Philippine Department of Education labeled the event a "high-alert situation," deploying regional personnel to coordinate psychological support and secure the premises. While gun-related crimes remain prevalent in the Philippines due to illegal firearms trafficking, active mass shootings inside school compounds are relatively rare in the country. The five injured victims are currently receiving treatment at nearby regional medical facilities.