Cop relieved over gun used in Tacloban school shooting
MANILA, Philippines — A police officer whose firearm was allegedly used in the deadly Tacloban school shooting has been relieved from her post and is facing criminal and administrative cases for failing to secure her weapon, the Philippine National Police said.
The cop, who is assigned to the Eastern Visayas police, is the aunt of one of the two teenage suspects in the shooting at San Jose National High School in Barangay 86, Tacloban City.
Police said the suspect known as "Nash," 14, used a 9mm Glock pistol registered to his aunt. The other suspect, identified as "Rod," 15, allegedly carried a .38 caliber handgun registered to a security agency based in Cebu City.
Three students, two girls and a boy, were killed in the shooting, while five others, mostly Grade 9 students, were wounded.
Gunfire inside classrooms
Eastern Visayas police director Jason Capoy said the suspects entered two classrooms and opened fire at 40 to 50 classmates at around 9 a.m.
"The children scampered right after they heard the gunshots," Brigadier General Capoy said.
Police Colonel Allen Rae Co, the spokesperson, said one suspect even reloaded his gun during the attack. Investigators recovered around 40 bullet casings from the scene.
"He changed magazines. As of now we were only able to recover two magazines, but we are still checking the area," Co said.
Police said only one bullet was missing from the .38 caliber handgun, indicating that Nash may have fired most of the shots.
One suspect was arrested inside the school, while the other was apprehended in a residential area near the campus.
Police are looking at revenge as a possible motive after investigators interviewed teachers and school officials with the Department of Social Welfare and Development. The suspects, who are close friends, had reportedly been bullied since Grade 7.
School security questioned
The attack has raised questions about how students carrying firearms were able to enter the campus. Capoy said the school has several entry and exit points, with only one security guard on duty at the time.
Colonel Noelito Getigan, Tacloban police chief, said a police station will be installed near the school to help ensure students' safety.
In response to the incident and other cases of school violence, PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. ordered commanders to strengthen police visibility around learning institutions, including preventive patrols and regular security assessments with school officials and local governments.
"Violence has no place in our schools. Our learners, teachers and school personnel deserve an environment that is safe and conducive to learning," Nartatez said.
DepEd Eastern Visayas said it had coordinated with police, the Tacloban schools division and school authorities to ensure the safety of learners, teachers, non-teaching personnel and others on campus. — based on a report by The Philippine STAR
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