Authorities in the Philippines said Monday that two juveniles were in police custody after three students were killed and seven were wounded in a rare school shooting in the Asian nation.
The shooting occurred Monday morning at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, located in the Eastern Visayas region of the Philippines.
The Tacloban City Police Office said in a statement that officers responded to a distress call regarding an active shooting at the school and detained two suspects, identified only as Rod and Nash. Police recovered two firearms, a .38-caliber revolver and a 9mm Glock pistol, which will undergo forensic examination, police said.
Unverified video of the shooting posted online shows students in a classroom cowering under their desks as gunshots erupt nearby. Students can be heard screaming and crying.
Authorities said officers secured the area and provided assistance to the 10 victims, who were transported to local hospitals for urgent medical attention. Three of the victims were pronounced dead at the hospital, they said.
The Tacloban City Police Office said bullying may have been a motive behind the shooting. The Tacloban City Information Office said it was “not a random shooting.”
“Further investigation indicates the incident may have stemmed from a personal grudge allegedly rooted in school bullying,” the police department said.
“Authorities are currently conducting a thorough investigation to establish the full circumstances surrounding the case.”
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation and ensure public safety at schools, according to his press officer, Claire Castro.
“The president regrets the incident,” she said in a statement, the official Philippine News Agency reported.
“Anyone, especially the parents of the victims, will feel sadness and fear.”
The Tacloban City Information Office said an executive order formalizing the suspension of classes at San Jose Central School, Manlurip Elementary School and San Jose National High School would be issued shortly.
According to the city, Vice Mayor Raymund Romualdez was at the scene.
Affected teachers, students and parents were receiving what the city called “psychological first aid.”
City officials are advising the public against circulating photos of those accused of involvement in the shooting, saying the act violates the confidentiality and privacy rights of children under Philippine law.
“This tragic incident involving minors is deeply distressing,” Tacloban police chief Noelito Getigan said in a statement.
“We assure the public that a thorough and impartial investigation is underway to establish the truth and ensure accountability while observing applicable laws, especially those protecting minors.”
