3 dead, 5 hurt from school shooting in Tacloban

MANILA, Philippines — Three people were killed and five wounded in a shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City on Monday, June 22, police said.

Officers have secured the campus and arrested one suspect at the scene, the Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8) said in a statement on social media. A second suspect fled and remains at large.

The shooting happened at about 9 a.m. on June 22 inside the school in Barangay San Jose, according to PRO-8. The wounded were taken to nearby hospitals. The number of casualties came from the initial investigation by the Tacloban City Police Office. 

Police have not publicly identified the dead, the wounded or the suspect in custody.

"All necessary measures are being undertaken to ensure the immediate arrest of the remaining suspect and maintain public safety and security," PRO-8 said.

The Tacloban City police, in a separate statement, condemned the shooting and said it stood in solidarity with the victims, their families and the San Jose National High School community. It said those responsible would be "held accountable under the full force of the law."

Tacloban police said responding officers were dispatched immediately after receiving the report and that the injured were assisted before being taken to medical facilities.

PRO-8 said it had deployed additional officers around the school to protect students, staff, parents and residents while the manhunt continued.

Both offices urged the public to remain calm and not to spread unverified information.

The Tacloban City government has announced the suspension of classes at San Jose Central School, Manlurip Elementary School and San Jose National High School "following a shooting incident that occurred this morning." 

The Department of Education has yet to comment on the incident.

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