A 9mm Glock pistol that figured in Monday’s deadly attack at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City belonged to a police officer who is an aunt of one of the two minors now in custody, investigators have determined. The weapon was the issued service firearm of the officer, who has since been placed under restrictive custody by Police Regional Office 8.
The second gun recovered from the scene, a .38 caliber revolver, was traced to a security agency operating out of Cebu City, according to a report aired by Sam Nielsen on Super Radyo dzBB.
PNP Spokesperson Colonel Allen Rae Co said one of the attackers who carried the 9mm reloaded during the assault, swapping in a fresh magazine. Investigators went on to recover close to 40 spent shell casings inside the school, an indication of how much ammunition was discharged.
Three people were confirmed killed and 11 wounded in the gunfire that broke out Monday morning. Both suspects, aged 14 and 15, are now held by police.
Authorities described gaps in campus security that allowed the weapons inside. One of the suspects concealed a firearm in a sling bag and walked it through the gate, while a school guard failed to flag the second attacker at all. PRO 8 Spokesperson P/Maj. Analiza Armeza, speaking to dzBB, said students recognized by guards were routinely waved through. “Sad to say, ma’am, hindi nila, hindi talaga sila nag-i-inspect lalo na kung identified naman nila na student ng school, hindi po,” she said.
The handling of the two suspects now turns on their ages and the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act. The 14-year-old, the relative of the police officer, falls outside criminal prosecution under Republic Act No. 9344. “Exempted from criminal liability, however, ire-refer din namin ‘yun for appropriate intervention ng City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO),” Armeza said.
The older suspect faces a different track. The CSWDO will assess whether the 15-year-old acted with discernment, and a finding that he understood the consequences of his actions could open the door to formal charges. Even then, Armeza noted, any conviction would not lead to ordinary imprisonment. “If ever man ma-convict siya… suspended sentence po yan kasi yung nga children in conflict with the law (CICL) sila,” she said.
