Jamaine Punzalan

Policemen stand near the crime scene of a school compound after a shooting incident at a high school compound in Tacloban City, Leyte province on June 22, 2026. Noel  Sianosa, AFP

Article (news)

Francis Orcio

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178227689110320260622-tacloban-school-shooting-sjns-AFP-2 (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Policemen stand near the crime scene of a school compound after a shooting incident at a high school compound in Tacloban City, Leyte province on June 22, 2026. <em>Noel  Sianosa, AFP</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) -- Police investigating the deadly shooting at San Jose National High School say they have uncovered information that the two suspects had tried to locate a specific person inside the campus before opening fire at classrooms as they walked across the hallway.</p><p>In an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN News, Police Lieutenant Colonel Analiza Armeza, Public Information Office chief of Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8), said the suspects did not immediately begin firing after entering the campus.</p><p>Instead, she said witnesses told them that the two suspects first tried to locate a person. When they learned that the individual was no longer in the area, investigators said that was when the pair walked through the school corridor and began shooting at classrooms they passed.</p><p>&quot;That day, pumunta sila sa last classroom to check for someone na parang may hinahanap silang target. And then upon knowing na wala doon iyong target, naglakad sila sa corridor, passing through several classrooms,&quot; Armeza said.</p><p>&quot;But before they started passing through the several classrooms, nagpaputok na. And as they passed by, pinapaputukan nila yung mga classroom na dinadaanan nila,&quot; she added.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/24/police-file-criminal-raps-vs-15-year-old-tacloban-school-shooter-0927">Police file criminal raps vs 15-year old Tacloban school shooter</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/24/qc-heightens-school-security-protocols-after-tacloban-school-shooting-1019">QC heightens school security protocols after Tacloban school shooting </a> </div><p>Police have yet to determine who that supposed target was.</p><p>Investigators interviewed classmates and witnesses, but none could identify the person whom the suspects allegedly intended to confront before the shooting.</p><p>Authorities are also trying to establish whether that unidentified individual had any connection to the bullying angle that investigators continue to examine.</p><p>&quot;Wala pong specific information as to kung sino iyong target. With the interview, even sa mga classmates, they also do not know. We are taking that into consideration (bullying) pero wala pa. Hindi pa namin na-establish kung sino iyong specific targets na iyon and if sila ba iyong mga nang-bully sa dalawang CICL,&quot; Armeza explained.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MOTIVE STILL NOT ESTABLISHED</strong></div><p>Despite public speculation that bullying may have been the reason behind the attack, PRO-8 said investigators have deliberately avoided settling on a single theory.</p><p>Instead, they continue to pursue multiple investigative tracks while awaiting the results of forensic examinations and additional interviews.</p><p>According to Armeza, bullying is just one possible angle among several being considered.</p><p>Investigators are also examining whether one of the suspects may have been influenced by online gaming, digital communities, or other online content before the shooting.</p><p>&quot;We have gathered that sa investigation na possible angle of bullying as motive and also iyong influence ng isang gaming application online na naka-influence sa kanya. But as of now kasi wala pang conclusive na na-establish na motive. And also, hindi po kasi kami nakatutok lang sa isang motibo. We are considering all of the possible motives.&quot; </p><p>Police said establishing the motive remains part of the continuing investigation even after criminal complaints have already been filed.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zQGyp6Swp10?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/h9ez9HXnXhM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wuN2YJvAh-8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Two underage suspects in a school shooting in Tacloban City were looking for a specific individual before they opened fire at other students, police said Wednesday.</p>

Two underage suspects in a school shooting in Tacloban City were looking for a specific individual before they opened fire at other students, police said Wednesday.

Tacloban school shooters had target — police

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Tacloban school shooters had target — police

Francis Orcio,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 24, 2026 12:56 PM PHT

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Updated June 24, 2026 08:26 PM PHT

Read More:

Tacloban

school shooting

shooting

gun violence

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minors crime

children in conflict with the law

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DepEd

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