Philippine schools review safety after Tacloban shooting, gov’t blocked gaming app linked to suspect

MANILA — Philippine authorities are reviewing school safety protocols and expanding civil defence planning to include responses to gun violence after a rare school shooting in Tacloban City left three students dead and 20 others injured, officials said Tuesday, according to reporting by Reuters and Associated Press.

The incident occurred Monday at a public high school in Tacloban City, southeast of Manila, where two students aged 14 and 15 allegedly opened fire using a 9mm pistol and a .38-caliber revolver. Police said at least 40 shell casings were recovered from the scene, and the youngest injured victim was 12 years old.

Authorities said both suspects have been turned over to social welfare officials while investigations continue into how the firearms were obtained. Police said one weapon was issued to a police officer now under investigation, while the other was registered to a security agency based in central Philippines.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has ordered a full investigation into the attack, which has renewed national debate on school security, youth violence, and the influence of digital platforms.

Senior civil defence official Rafaelito Alejandro said the government must broaden emergency preparedness beyond natural disasters to include violent incidents.

“This will change how we prepare our schools for safety, not just for earthquakes,” Alejandro said, adding that authorities must prepare for “human-induced, crime-related incidents.”

Lieutenant Evalyn Diaz, a police spokesperson, said the school, which has nearly 2,000 students, was not prepared for an active shooter scenario. She said some students panicked and ran during the attack, unintentionally exposing themselves to gunfire.

“We really don’t prepare for this kind of incident,” Diaz said. “They didn’t really know what to do, so they ran in different directions.”

In a parallel development, authorities temporarily blocked the online game Gorebox after investigators identified it as an application used frequently by one of the suspects.

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) said the temporary restriction was intended to determine whether the platform or similar online environments may have influenced the suspects’ actions.

Officials said the decision was based on initial findings from the ongoing investigation and would allow authorities to assess possible links between online content and violent behavior. The agency did not specify how long the block would remain in place.

“We cannot ignore possible online influences that may have contributed to this tragic incident,” a CICC official said, adding that monitoring of digital platforms would be strengthened to protect children from harmful content.

The move adds a new dimension to the investigation, which is also examining allegations of bullying, firearm access, and broader behavioral factors. Regional police officials said the suspects claimed they were bullied, although authorities cautioned that all possible motives remain under review.

Investigators are also assessing whether exposure to violent online communities or content may have played a role, alongside traditional concerns such as school security gaps and illegal firearms circulation.

The shooting occurred weeks after Philippine schools reopened following a two-month break, intensifying scrutiny of campus safety systems across the country.

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said education and health officials will coordinate to improve emergency preparedness training for teachers and students. “It is all about training people when there are emergencies so they know what to do,” he said.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the incident highlights growing concerns about children’s exposure to online violence and the need for stronger preventive systems.

“It’s not just a peace and order problem. We also need to manage the children,” Angara said.

Senator Risa Hontiveros announced plans to reopen a Senate inquiry into the role of online platforms, including gaming spaces, in potentially influencing or radicalizing minors.

“If the internet is being used to exploit children, there must be accountability,” she said.

The Philippine National Police has also supported proposals to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility, currently set at 15, with some legislative versions proposing a reduction to 12 or even 10. The suspects in the Tacloban case are minors and remain under evaluation by authorities.

School shootings are considered rare in the Philippines, which enforces strict firearm ownership rules including background checks, psychological evaluations, and permitting requirements for public carry. However, illegal firearms remain widely accessible.

Officials said initial questioning suggested possible long-term bullying as a motive, though investigators stressed that the case remains open and no final conclusion has been reached.

Authorities said the broader investigation will examine multiple factors, including school security procedures, family access to firearms, and exposure to online content, as the country confronts one of its most serious school-related violence incidents in recent years.