Two teenage boys opened fire inside San Jose National High School in Tacloban City in the Philippines on June 22, 2026, killing three students and wounding at least 20 others (15 from gunfire) in an attack that authorities say was planned in advance.
Two critical-condition wounded students include Joan Vinias (Grade 10, shot in the head) and Nathan Candelario (Grade 9, shot in the intestines).
Regional police chief Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy disclosed on June 23 that the two suspects had been plotting the shooting since as early as April or May. “Based on our information, as early as May 1, if I’m not mistaken,” Capoy told reporters. The suspects — a 14-year-old (Nash) and a 15-year-old (Rod), one of whom was a student of the school — were close friends and said during initial questioning that they were bullied at school, according to Capoy, though he declined to provide further details about those allegations. Both had no prior criminal record. One suspect was apprehended at the scene, while the other was captured following a manhunt.
The mid-morning assault sent hundreds of terrified students fleeing the campus, which serves more than 1,500 students.
Two Classrooms Targeted as Students Fled
The gunmen forced their way into two separate classrooms, chasing down fleeing students who had scattered after the initial gunfire erupted in the first room. Police recovered at least 40 shell casings from the scene. Most of those killed and wounded were female students.
Footage circulating online showed students crouched beneath desks inside a locked classroom, sobbing and screaming as gunshots echoed nearby. Some were heard calling their mothers. Other video captured visibly shaken students streaming out of the campus gates, many clinging to one another as they ran.
Security Lapse Enabled Weapons Smuggling
The teenage gunmen smuggled two weapons onto campus by exploiting a critical security gap. Capoy said only a single guard was posted across multiple entrances and exits, allowing the students to enter undetected. One suspect brought a 9 mm pistol taken from an aunt who works as a police officer. That aunt has since been relieved of duty, placed under restrictive custody, and faces both criminal and administrative charges for failing to secure her service weapon. The second suspect carried a .38 caliber revolver.
Age Complicates Criminal Prosecution
The suspects’ ages create complex legal challenges. Under a 2006 Philippine law, the minimum age for criminal liability is 15, meaning that the 14-year-old cannot be prosecuted criminally under any circumstances. Police Regional Office 8 filed a criminal complaint against the 15-year-old (“Rod”) with the Tacloban Prosecutor’s Office as of June 24. Both suspects have been transferred to the custody of the Tacloban City Social Welfare and Development Office under the country’s juvenile justice law.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a comprehensive investigation and directed law enforcement agencies to strengthen security measures at schools, workplaces, and other public spaces nationwide. Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the president was deeply affected by the news, noting that “anybody, especially the parents of the victims, will feel sad and terrified.” The national police urged the public to remain calm and cooperate with ongoing investigations.
Gun Violence Common, School Shootings Rare
Gun violence involving unlicensed firearms remains a persistent problem in the Philippines, but deadly school shootings are comparatively uncommon. The last major incident occurred in 2022, when a gunman attacked an upscale Manila-area university ahead of a graduation ceremony, killing a former Philippine city mayor and two other people.
The June 22 attack in Tacloban City has sparked urgent questions about campus security, firearm accessibility, and how schools identify and respond to bullied students before violence occurs. Investigators have not yet confirmed whether any formal bullying complaints were filed at San Jose National High School prior to the shooting.
