Three people were killed and seven injured in a high school shooting in the Philippines on Monday, with authorities citing a bullying-related grudge as the motive, according to reports. The incident occurred at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, where two suspects—aged 14 and 15,opened fire in a classroom.

Motivated by Bullying, Suspects Armed with Family Firearms

Investigators believe the suspects were motivated by a grudge over school bullying — One of the teenagers, identified as a 15-year-old, surrendered after the shooting, while the other was arrested soon after the incident. According to national police spokesperson Colonel Allen Rae Co, the two suspects went “straight to the classroom. Without saying anything, they started firing.”

The suspects were armed with a.38 revolver and a 9mm pistol, while the 9mm pistol belonged to a policewoman who is one of the suspects’ relatives and is now in custody. Around 40 empty shells were recovered from the crime scene; In addition to the three killed, three were injured by gunshots and four more were wounded in their panic to escape, Co added.

Investigators also found violent videos of one of the teens firing a gun on his social media. “So this is very obviously red flags… we’re not putting blame on anybody, but if anybody was able to monitor these red flags, this could have been prevented,” Co said.

Concern Over Missed Warning Signs and Gun Access

Colonel Co noted that “red flags” in the suspects’ behavior had been missed, which could have provided an opportunity to prevent the crime. The Department of Education expressed grave concern and called the incident a “high alert situation.” In a statement, it condemned the violence and extended condolences to the victims’ families.

Gun violence is not uncommon in the Philippines, but school shootings are extremely rare. The most recent high-profile school shooting occurred in July 2022 at an Ateneo de Manila University law school graduation ceremony in Quezon City, where three people were killed, including former Lamitan City mayor Rose Furigay.

The mother of a 15-year-old slain student, Jennelyn Badoria, called for accountability in gun ownership. “I’m asking that the gun owners be charged, because the guns wouldn’t have ended up in the children’s hands if it weren’t for them,” she said in an interview outside the school.

Uncommon Violence in Philippine Schools

While school shootings are not common in the Philippines, the incident has raised concerns about youth access to firearms and the potential for violence in educational settings. The suspects’ use of weapons owned by a relative highlights ongoing debates about gun control and responsibility in the country.

Authorities have launched a full investigation into the motives and circumstances surrounding the shooting, though no formal charges have been announced yet, but both suspects are in custody. The victims have not been named. And it is still unclear whether the intended targets were in the classroom when the shooting occurred.

As the investigation continues, the tragedy has sparked national conversations about school safety, mental health, and gun regulation in the Philippines.