MANILA — Authorities have filed a criminal complaint against a 15-year-old student involved in the deadly shooting at a public high school in Tacloban City that killed three students and wounded several others, while investigators continue to examine possible motives and determine accountability for the firearms used in the attack.
The complaint was formally filed Tuesday night before the Prosecutor’s Office against the minor, who is classified as a child in conflict with the law (CICL), according to Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8) public information officer Lieutenant Colonel Analiza Armeza.
The 15-year-old is one of two minors taken into custody following the June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School in Barangay San Jose, Tacloban City. The other suspect is 14 years old.
Police said the case has now entered the jurisdiction of prosecutors, who will evaluate the evidence and determine the appropriate charges.
“As to the motive and others, kasi nasa jurisdiction na siya ng Prosecution Service. They will be the one to assess and evaluate the complaint,” Armeza said.
Investigators are continuing to look into several possible motives, including reports of bullying, which police said emerged during the investigation.
“’Yan (bullying) ang isang tiningnan sa conduct ng investigation. Actually kahit naman na-file na siya with the Prosecutor’s Office, for a comprehensive approach and formulation of intervention – kasi magiging part naman din ‘yung Philippine National Police ditto – other motives are taken into consideration,” Armeza added.
Armeza stressed that authorities are not limiting the investigation to a single theory and are pursuing a broader examination of circumstances that may have led to the attack.
Police are likewise verifying the specific roles played by the two minors during the shooting. Initial findings indicate that the younger suspect may have fired more shots, although investigators said that assessment remains subject to further review by prosecutors.
Meanwhile, PRO-8 has launched an administrative investigation against a female police officer whose service firearm was allegedly used in the incident.
According to Armeza, the officer maintained that the weapon had been properly secured and that she could not explain how her nephew allegedly gained access to it.
“She safe-keeps the firearm. Confused siya as to how nakuha ng kanyang pamangkin ‘yung baril kasi tinago naman niya ‘yon,” Armeza said.
The police officer has been relieved from her post and placed under restrictive custody pending the outcome of the investigation.
Authorities are also studying the possibility of filing charges against the parents of the minors as part of efforts to determine accountability in the case.
The two suspects have been turned over to the Tacloban City Social Welfare and Development Office, which now has custody of them.
Police said students injured in the shooting are already in stable condition.
PRO-8 added that investigators have found no evidence linking other students to the attack and have concluded, based on available evidence, that only the two minors were directly involved in the deadly school shooting./PN
