At least three people lost their lives and five others sustained injuries on Monday following a rare school shooting in the central Philippines, according to police authorities.
Investigators are still working to determine the motive behind the attack, which occurred at about 9 a.m. local time (0100 GMT) at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, located in Leyte province.
In a statement, regional police confirmed that emergency responders quickly moved the victims to nearby hospitals for urgent medical care and treatment.
“The victims were immediately transported to nearby medical facilities for treatment and appropriate medical intervention,” the police statement said.
State-owned broadcaster PTV reported that two individuals, both believed to be students, were taken into custody in connection with the incident. One of the suspects was reportedly arrested at the school premises shortly after the shooting.
Presidential spokesperson Claire Castro praised the swift response of law enforcement officers, telling reporters, “The PNP has already caught the suspects. They acted quickly.”
Although school shootings are uncommon in the Philippines, incidents involving firearms and targeted attacks have occasionally occurred, particularly in politically charged environments across some provinces.
One notable case took place in 2022 when three people, including a former city mayor, were killed in a shooting before a graduation ceremony at the Ateneo de Manila University. Authorities later concluded that the attack was an assassination motivated by personal grievances.
Gun ownership in the Philippines is subject to strict regulations. However, authorities have long struggled with the proliferation of illegal firearms, with a significant black market continuing to operate across parts of the country.
