Photo from Inquirer

by Alexia Bangayan

On Monday, June 22, President Ferdinand ”Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ordered a probe following the school shooting in San Jose National High School in Tacloban City that took three lives and injured five individuals.

According to Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, the President has instructed to strengthen safety measures, particularly in schools, to secure the public.

“Iniuutos ang malalimang pag-iimbestiga rito at pinapasiguro ang proteksyon at kaligtasan sa lahat ng lugar, opisina, establisyimento lalong lalo na sa mga paaralan,” she said.

Castro added that the President expressed sorrow over the incident, noting that anyone, especially the family of the victims, would naturally feel grief and fear.

The two minor suspects are now in police custody, and authorities confirmed that two firearms were used in the incident.

Investigators are also examining whether bullying may have been a factor in the incident.

Shooting erupts inside classroom

The shooting began inside a classroom at around 9 a.m. before the victims ran outside, where they were chased by the suspects.

Personnel of the Tacloban City Police Station (TCPO) quickly responded, securing the premises and ensuring the safety of students, teachers, and school personnel.

TCPO assured the public that it is coordinating closely with the agencies and school officials to prevent similar incidents from happening again in the future.

Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office-8 stated, “We urge the public to remain calm, refrain from disseminating unverified information, and cooperate with authorities by providing any information that may aid the ongoing investigation.” 

In response, classes at San Jose Central School, Manlurip Elementary School, and San Jose National High School were suspended.