Geline Salac

Tacloban school shooter attended flag ceremony, hid in CR before crime: PNP

Article (news)

David Dizon

ABS-CBN News

One of the two suspects in a deadly school shooting in Tacloban attended the school’s flag ceremony and then hid in the school’s comfort room before committing the deed with his older companion, the Philippine National Police said Tuesday.PCol, Allen Rae Co, the PNP public information office OIC, said the 14-year-old shooter, identified as alias Nash, arrived at the San Jose National High School in Barangay 87, Tacloban City at 7:30 a.m. to attend the flag ceremony.He then hid in the school’s comfort room before he was joined by his 15-year-old companion, identified as alias Rod.At 9 a.m., both students left the CR, went around before shooting at fellow students at around 9:20 a.m. Three people were killed while 20 others were wounded in the shooting spree before the two were caught.“Dalawang room ang pinaputukan. Meron pa daw hinabol, hindi pa natin alam kung talagang targeted or kung sino po ang una nilang makita (They fired at two rooms. They allegedly chased someone, but we don’t know if it was targeted or they just shot the first person they saw),” the PNP spokesman said.He said it was alias Nash who fired most of the shots. Both suspects tested positive for gunpowder nitrates, based on paraffin tests. Alias Rod was quickly restrained by Police Corporal Melchor Homo and FO2 Ludwig Edrick Zosa at 9:30 a.m. Co said Rod was only able to fire a single round during the shooting.Alias Nash was taken into custody at 11:15 a.m. by a civilian. Recovered from his possession were a bag containing a Glock 17 pistol, foldable baton, bonnet, white sweatshirt, vest, firearm holster and white t-shirt.<div> </div><div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hHjwjpr-tE4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>Police Region 8 Director PBGen Jason Capoy said the school shooting was planned at least a month in advance, with both shooters discussing possible criminal liability if they were caught, based on alleged DMs between the two.Police are also investigating the possibility that the school shooting was due to the influence of the sandbox video game <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vodyyAc5Jsg">GoreBox</a>, which has been <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/technology/2026/6/23/cybercrime-body-bans-videogame-gorebox-after-tacloban-school-shooting-1545">banned</a> by the CyberCrime Investigation and Coordinating Center.“At one point in time, nadala daw kasi ito sa shooting range. Hindi naman siya ganun kagaling o kabihasa but alam niya paano i-manipulate yung pag release ng magazine, pag reload. As per investigation, Gorebox, just like Roblox, may laro, may shooting, shooting din, mga ganung firearms,” Capoy said.Authorities earlier said alias Nash allegedly <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/6/23/tacloban-school-shooting-planned-shooter-got-gun-from-policewoman-aunt-pnp-0858">got his 9mm Glock 17</a> from his policewoman-aunt, while the other shooter got his Caliber 38 revolver from a security agency in Cebu.The policewoman is now under investigation on how she lost custody of her firearm, which was then used in the school shooting.President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has expressed shock over the incident and has ordered a comprehensive review of security measures in schools.Co confirmed that under the Juvenile Justice Law, children in conflict with the law who are below 15 years old are exempt from criminal liability but will need to be brought to facility run by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.Authorities will also investigate possible criminal liability of the parents of the two shooters. The PNP spokesman said the police will also investigate if other online content radicalized the two.

One of the two suspects in a deadly school shooting in Tacloban attended the school’s flag ceremony and then hid in the school’s comfort room before committing the deed with his older companion, the Philippine National Police said Tuesday.

One of the two suspects in a deadly school shooting in Tacloban attended the school’s flag ceremony and then hid in the school’s comfort room before committing the deed with his older companion, the Philippine National Police said Tuesday.