MANILA: Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors in Tacloban City are set to file frustrated murder and attempted murder charges against a 15-year-old student accused in a shooting in a public school two months ago.
The prosecutors believe that the accused was “acting with discernment” when he brought a gun at San Jose National High School on June 22 and fired it, leaving left three dead and at least 20 others injured.
According to DOJ Undersecretary Ian Norman Dato, prosecutors are filing of four counts of frustrated murder and six counts of attempted murder before a regional trial court against one of the two Grade 9 students who were identified to be behind the shooting.
“Our prosecutors found that he acted with discernment and in conspiracy with a second minor,” Dato said in a press briefing on Thursday (Sept 3).
The other perpetrator is a 14-year-old Grade 9 student who is considered exempt from criminal liability under existing laws.
Both were placed in custody of a rehabilitation facility managed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
A bail of P72,000 for each count of frustrated murder and P36,000 for each count for the attempted murder was recommended for the 15-year-old boy, who is now considered a child in conflict with the law (CICL).
The 15-year-old CICL is also facing three counts of murder, three counts of frustrated murder and multiple counts of physical injury, which were filed by the Police Regional Office in Eastern Visayas in June.
Tacloban prosecutors last week, meanwhile, also recommended the filing of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and physical injuries against Police Staff Sergeant Arla Rey Pacencia.
Pacencia is the aunt of the 14-year-old boy and owner of the government-issued 9mm Glock 17 firearm used in the incident. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
