TACLOBAN CITY, PHILIPPINES / MENA Newswire / – Gunfire at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City killed three students and injured at least 20 others on Monday, police said. The shooting took place at about 9 a.m. inside the public campus in Barangay San Jose. Police said two students, ages 14 and 15, are in custody.
The suspects and the victims studied at the same high school, authorities said. Police did not release the minors’ names due to juvenile protection rules. Officers took one suspect into custody at the school after the shooting. They found the second suspect later at a nearby house after residents alerted police.
Police said 15 injured people had gunshot wounds. Others suffered injuries while fleeing classrooms and jumping from a window during the attack. Medical teams took the wounded to hospitals for treatment. The school has more than 1,500 students, and the shooting happened during morning class hours.
Police secure Tacloban campus
Investigators recovered at least 40 shell casings at the scene, police said. Authorities said one suspect used a 9 mm pistol and the other used a .38 caliber revolver. Police are reviewing how the handguns reached the students and entered the campus. Officers also cordoned off parts of the school while evidence teams worked.
The Philippine National Police said the minors remained under custody pending referral to social welfare officers. Officials are handling the case under the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, which sets rules for children in conflict with the law. Police said the investigation continues and asked the public to share verified information with authorities.
Officials arrange support services
The Department of Education said it coordinated with school officials, police and welfare agencies after the Tacloban school shooting. The agency said support for affected learners, staff and families includes safety measures and psychosocial assistance. National officials also ordered tighter security in schools and other public areas after the incident.
Authorities urged residents to avoid spreading unverified claims while investigators review the shooting. Additional police personnel deployed in the area to help keep order near the campus. School shootings remain rare in the Philippines, where firearm violence more often occurs outside campuses. The Tacloban case has placed school safety in Leyte under national scrutiny.