MANILA: (Bernama-PNA) The deadly shooting inside a classroom at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, in the Eastern Visayas region of the central Philippines, that left three students dead and 20 others injured was planned for more than a month by the two suspects, who are both minors, the Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported, citing police Tuesday (June 23).
Eastern Visayas Police chief Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy said investigators found that the 14- and 15-year-old suspects had been planning the attack since April or May.
"Based on our information, as early as May 1, if I'm not mistaken, they had been planning for it since April or May," Capoy said in a phone interview with Camp Crame reporters.
Capoy said three students - two female and one male - were killed in the attack, while 15 sustained gunshot wounds and five were injured after jumping to safety.
He also expressed alarm over reports circulating online that the suspects had coordinated how to bring firearms into the school and were aware of the provisions of Republic Act 9344, or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act.
Investigators said most of the bullets fired during the attack came from a Glock 9mm service firearm owned by a police officer, who is the aunt of one of the suspects.
He added that one of the suspects, the 14-year-old, was reportedly addicted to a mobile game called GoreBox, which supposedly features graphic violence and gun use.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. has ordered investigators to build a strong case against all individuals who may have enabled the minors to gain access to the firearms used in the attack. - Bernama-PNA
