Bullying Motive Probed in Deadly Tacloban School Shooting

Police recovered 40 spent casings at the scene, where the suspects utilized a 9 mm Glock and a .38-caliber revolver. Investigations into the origin of the weapons revealed a troubling security lapse: the Glock was officially issued to a police officer currently under investigation, while the revolver belonged to a Cebu City-based security agency. Both minors are now in the custody of social welfare authorities.

Philippine National Police spokesperson Allen Rae Co confirmed that initial interviews point to years of targeted bullying as the primary motive. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered a comprehensive inquiry, demanding immediate improvements to safety protocols within public schools. While gun violence remains statistically rare in the Philippines due to stringent licensing and psychological screening requirements, the presence of these weapons on campus highlights the persistent threat posed by illegal arms circulation. This incident marks another violent chapter for the country’s educational institutions, echoing the 2022 shooting at Ateneo de Manila University that claimed three lives.