Three dead in high school shooting in Philippines

Two students opened fired at a high school in central Philippines, leaving three of their peers dead and seven more wounded, police say.

The suspects, aged 14 and 15, are both in police custody. One was arrested soon after the shooting at the San Jose National High School in Tacloban city while the second later surrendered.

Local police officials have said the teens are still being questioned but the shooting may have been motivated by a "grudge" over bullying.

Gun violence is not uncommon in the Philippines, but school shootings are extremely rare.

This is the first school shooting in Tacloban City in recent memory, Evalyn Diaz from the city police told BBC News. Police patrols in the city have been increased while investigations are underway, she said.

The pair were armed with a .38 revolver and a 9mm pistol, officials say.

"We call on parents who have firearms to be more responsible, hide their firearms, make sure those are properly hidden, talk to their children," Diaz said.

The mother of a slain 15-year-old student told Agence France-Presse whoever had allowed the shooters access to guns must be held accountable.

"I'm asking that the gun owners be charged, because the guns wouldn't have ended up in the children's hands if it weren't for them," Jennelyn Badoria said in an interview outside the school.

The education ministry has expressed "deep concern" over the incident. "We call on everyone to join us in praying for the safety, healing and recovery of those affected by this incident," it said in a statement.

The seven wounded students are being treated in hospital but there is no update on their condition.

Police data show gun violence has been steadily declining in recent years. In 2024, the Philippine National Police recorded close to 5,000 gun violence cases nationwide.

Tacloban city, about an hour by plane from Manila, is home to 250,000 people.

Located on Leyte Island in the Visayas region, the city was among the worst-hit by Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 that killed 6,000 and plunged many in the region into deeper poverty.