DILG Sec. Jonvic Remulla – Photo courtesy of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)/Facebook.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Wednesday the deadly shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City appeared to be linked to bullying, based on initial information reaching his office.
Remulla said he had yet to receive the full report on the incident but noted that early feedback pointed to a bullying-related motive.
He said the minors involved had claimed they were bullied in the past and may have reached a breaking point before the attack.
Two male students, aged 14 and 15, allegedly opened fire inside the campus on Monday morning.
The shooting left three students dead and several others wounded.
The Philippine National Police earlier said it was checking the suspects’ claims of bullying, as well as reports that one of them had played the shooting game GoreBox.
Remulla said police officers were assigned to schools but were not allowed to frisk every student entering campus.
He said police jurisdiction generally covered areas outside schools, while school officials were responsible for security inside campuses. Still, Remulla said policies had to be reviewed and possible root causes, including bullying, must be addressed.