Police at the entrance of a Tacloban school after shooting
Police investigators walk near the entrance of a high school compound in Tacloban City, Leyte province, Philippines, on June 22, 2026. At least three students were killed and more than a dozen others wounded when two teenage classmates opened fire at the school in one of the deadliest school shootings in the country's recent history.

Three students were killed and more than a dozen others wounded when two teenage classmates opened fire at a high school in the central Philippines on Monday — one of the deadliest school shootings in the country's recent history, and an incident that has prompted a national response from the government.

WHAT HAPPENED

The shooting occurred around 9:20 a.m. at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, a public school with more than 1,500 students, while classes were underway. Two suspects, aged 14 and 15, were taken into custody — one arrested at the scene, the other captured nearby after a brief search. Both were students at the same school. Police said the pair used a .38 caliber revolver and a 9mm pistol. Three students died; at least 13 others were wounded. Police said the suspects, who were close friends, told investigators in initial questioning that they had been bullied at school, though authorities cautioned the investigation into motive was ongoing.

The Department of Education condemned the shooting and said it was mobilizing assistance for the students and staff affected. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a thorough investigation and directed authorities to strengthen security at schools nationwide. Classes at several schools in the area were suspended following the incident. Philippine officials noted that while gun violence is common in the Philippines, school shootings of this scale are extremely rare.

💡 Why it matters

School shootings remain a relatively uncommon phenomenon in the Philippines, making Monday's attack a jarring national event. The incident has prompted an immediate government response focused on school security and gun access, and has reignited a broader conversation about bullying and student safety in Philippine schools. The arrests of two minors also raises difficult questions for the country's juvenile justice system, which handles suspects under 18 differently from adult offenders. For international observers, the shooting adds to a growing body of evidence that the challenges of school violence and youth access to firearms extend well beyond any single country.

WHAT'S NEXT

Philippine authorities are investigating how the two suspects obtained the firearms and whether additional charges will be filed. Under Philippine law, the two minors will be processed through the juvenile justice system rather than the adult criminal courts. The Department of Education said it is working with social welfare agencies to provide psychological support to students and staff at the school. President Marcos ordered a nationwide security review of schools, and officials said additional safety measures would be put in place before classes resume. This is a developing story and will be updated.

Originally published on HNGN