HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING INCIDENT IN TACLOBAN CITY, LEYTE

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Photo Courtesy of PNP Tacloban City Police Office via Facebook

Photo Courtesy of Police Regional Office 8

Two junior high school students were arrested Monday after a shooting inside a local campus left three students dead and seven others wounded, an incident police say may have been fueled by severe bullying.

The shooting occurred on June 22, 2026, inside San Jose National High School, a public campus in Tacloban City, Leyte.

The suspects, identified as Grade 9 students aged 14 and 15, had posted a photograph on Facebook holding firearms shortly before launching the attack, according to local investigators.

The Attack and Response

Chaos erupted on Monday morning when gunfire echoed through the campus grounds. One of the suspects was immediately cornered and arrested by school security and responding police officers inside the school premises.

The second minor suspect fled the scene, triggering an immediate lockdown. He was later apprehended during a tactical hot-pursuit operation by local authorities in a nearby neighborhood.

Medical teams rushed ten victims to local hospitals, where three were pronounced dead. Seven other students remain under medical care for varying gunshot injuries.

Bullying Probed as Motive

According to the Tacloban City Police Office (TCPO), preliminary interrogation suggests the young suspects were allegedly victims of systemic bullying at the school. Investigators are currently interviewing teachers, classmates, and family members to verify these claims and establish a definitive timeline.

Because both suspects are minors, authorities confirmed they will be handled under the guidelines of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) taking part in the legal proceedings.

Call to Stop Sharing Graphic Media

As videos and photos of the incident began circulating widely online, the TCPO issued an urgent appeal to the public to stop sharing graphic media and unverified narratives of the shooting.

Police warned that the rapid spread of these online materials is severely compounding the trauma and grief of the victims' families, and urged citizens to allow official investigators to handle the release of information.

Local officials have ordered a temporary suspension of classes at the school to give way to the ongoing forensic investigation and to arrange counseling services for the traumatized student body.

1033 - 06232026 | The Department of Education (DepEd) Tacloban City Division has suspended classes in all public elementary and secondary schools today, June 23, 2026.

The division-wide suspension follows a deadly shooting incident at San Jose National High School on Monday. In a division memorandum, Schools Division Superintendent Sherlita Palma stated the order aims to prioritize the safety, security, and emotional well-being of learners and school personnel amid widespread anxiety.

In tandem with the school closures, the Tacloban City Government has strictly enforced a minor curfew from 10:00 PM to 4:00 AM. This measure applies to the San Jose area and across the entire city. Local authorities have also maximized police visibility and patrol operations in key public spaces, including the San Jose district and the Sangyawan Grounds, to restore public order.

 1537 - 06232026 — The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) ordered a temporary nationwide ban on the ultra-violent mobile game GoreBox following a tragic shooting at San Jose National High School that left three students dead and 20 others injured.

The fast-moving investigation has exposed critical lapses in campus security, triggered the administrative relief of a local police officer, and drawn swift condemnation from the international community.

CICC Blocks Violent Game Linked to 14-Year-Old Shooter

Photo Courtesy of CICC

On June 23, 2026, tech regulators confirmed that internet service providers would block GoreBox within the day. Developed by F2 Games, the R18+ sandbox application allows players to utilize firearms and explosives to inflict graphic destruction on pixelated human models.

Police Regional Office Eastern Visayas (PRO 8) Director Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy revealed that the 14-year-old primary suspect was heavily addicted to the game and had previously been taken to a real-world shooting range.

"We cannot ignore possible online influences that may have contributed to this tragic incident," stated CICC Undersecretary Aboy Paraiso. "Temporarily blocking the game will allow authorities to conduct a thorough assessment of whether the platform played a role in the suspects' actions."

Police Officer Aunt Relieved Over Securement Failures

The investigation quickly shifted toward gun ownership accountability after ballistic testing matched 40 empty shells recovered from the crime scene to a registered 9mm Glock pistol. The weapon belonged to the 14-year-old shooter’s aunt, an active-duty policewoman within the region.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) immediately relieved the officer from her post and placed her under restrictive custody. She faces stringent criminal negligence and administrative charges for failing to secure her government-issued firearm.

A secondary weapon used during the assault—a .38-caliber revolver carried by a 15-year-old accomplice—was fired once and has been tracked to a private security firm based in Cebu City.

Single Guard Stationed During Campus Breach

Severe security deficiencies at San Jose National High School are now under intense scrutiny. Investigators discovered that the sprawling campus, which accommodates thousands of students across multiple access points, had only one security guard on duty when the attack occurred around 9:00 AM.

Because the lone guard remained inside the front guardhouse, the two junior high suspects bypassed mandatory baggage inspections and frisking altogether. The Department of Education (DepEd), led by Secretary Sonny Angara, has launched an immediate audit of safety protocols across regional public schools.

UAE Issues Strong Condemnation

The unprecedented violence has drawn sharp reactions beyond Philippine borders. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an official diplomatic statement strongly condemning the criminal act.

The UAE expressed deep condolences to the families of the three deceased learners and reiterated its absolute rejection of all forms of violence and extremism that threaten institutional peace and security.

Both underage suspects remain under police custody while local social welfare offices process their legal placement.

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — A high school campus became a scene of tragedy on Monday morning, June 22, 2026, when a shooting incident at San Jose National High School left three students dead and 20 others injured.

The attack, which sent shockwaves through the local community, was carried out by two minor students who opened fire inside classrooms. Local authorities have since taken both suspects into custody.

The Casualties

Photo Courtesy of Tacloban City Information Office

The Tacloban City Information Office and local police confirmed that all 23 casualties are minor students enrolled at the institution.

Three Fatalities: Two victims died instantly at the scene, while a third succumbed to injuries after being rushed to a nearby hospital. Officials are withholding their names out of respect for the families.

Fifteen Gunshot Wounds: Fifteen students sustained direct injuries from the gunfire. Most are currently stable, though one student remains fighting for their life in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Five Stampede Injuries: Five additional students suffered minor lacerations and blunt trauma during a chaotic stampede as hundreds panicked and fled the building.

Community in Mourning

Local government units have suspended classes in the district until further notice to allow for a full forensic investigation and to implement grief counseling. Mayor's office representatives stated that security protocols across all public schools in Tacloban will undergo an immediate, stringent review to prevent future campus violence.

1600 - 06242026 | Investigators probing the June 22 mass shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City have uncovered an unprecedented serial number duplication. Police Colonel Elmer Cinco of RCSU-7 confirmed that the .38-caliber revolver recovered from a minor suspect shares a matching serial number with an Armscor revolver registered to a Cebu City security agency. However, authorities verified that the agency's actual firearm is currently deployed to a security guard in Bohol, confirming that the shooting weapon is a separate, potentially cloned firearm.