Manila: Philippines authorities are reassessing school safety protocols and emergency preparedness following a rare and deadly school shooting that left three students dead and 20 others injured in Tacloban City.
The attack occurred on Monday when two students, aged 15 and 14, allegedly opened fire inside a public high school, shocking a country where school shootings are uncommon.
According to police, the suspects used a 9mm Glock pistol and a .38-calibre revolver. The youngest victim injured in the attack was just 12 years old. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has ordered an investigation into the incident.
Senior civil defence officials said the tragedy has exposed gaps in emergency preparedness at educational institutions, which traditionally focus on responding to natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons.
Authorities revealed that many students panicked during the shooting and ran in different directions, inadvertently exposing themselves to danger because they had not been trained for such scenarios. Police recovered at least 40 spent shell casings from the scene.
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said education and health officials would work together to update emergency response procedures and train students and teachers on how to react during violent incidents.
The two suspects have been placed under the custody of social welfare authorities while investigators examine how they obtained the firearms. Police said one weapon had been issued to a police officer who is now under investigation, while the second firearm was registered to a security agency in Cebu City.
Initial investigations suggest the suspects may have experienced bullying over several years, though authorities cautioned that no conclusions have been reached and other factors remain under review.
The tragedy has also intensified concerns about children’s exposure to violent online content. Education Secretary Sonny Angara warned that authorities must examine the potential influence of social media and online platforms on young people.
Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros announced plans to reopen a Senate inquiry into allegations that online spaces, including gaming platforms, are being used to groom or radicalise children into committing acts of violence.
The incident has sparked a nationwide debate over school security, youth mental health, online safety and the legal age of criminal responsibility, with some officials advocating tougher laws and expanded emergency preparedness measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.