Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian announced that social workers have determined the 15-year-old student involved in the deadly shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City acted with discernment. Speaking to reporters in Zamboanga City on Monday, June 29, 2026, Gatchalian said the assessment indicated the suspect understood the nature and consequences of his actions.
"So ibig sabihin, alam na alam niya 'yung ginagawa niya (It means he knows exactly what he's doing)," Gatchalian said.
Court to decide weight of DSWD findings
The DSWD chief stated the agency will submit its findings to the court, which will ultimately determine their weight in legal proceedings. Beyond the social workers' assessment, Gatchalian said the agency is awaiting psychological evaluation results for both the 15-year-old and his 14-year-old co-suspect. These findings will help determine appropriate interventions for the two minors.
"Makukuha ko 'yung resulta today. Doon natin maanalisa, ano ba ang nangyari? Bakit sila gumawa ng ganitong karumal-dumal na krimen? At ano ang dapat na intervention nating gawin para sa kanila?" Gatchalian said. (I'll receive the results today. From there, we can analyze what happened, why they committed such a heinous crime, and determine what interventions we should provide for them.)
Deadliest school shooting in recent years
The June 22 shooting inside San Jose National High School left three students dead and 20 others injured, making it one of the deadliest school shooting incidents in the country in recent years. Under Republic Act 9344, or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, children aged 15 years and below are generally exempt from criminal liability. However, the law provides an exception for those above 15 but below 18 if they acted with discernment—meaning they understood the wrongfulness of their actions and consequences at the time of the offense.
When discernment is established, the child may be held criminally liable, though proceedings remain subject to special protections and procedures under the juvenile justice system. Children aged 15 and below who commit offenses are instead subjected to intervention programs and rehabilitation rather than criminal prosecution.
Firearms traced to relatives
Police investigators have identified separate sources of the firearms allegedly used in the attack. Authorities said the 14-year-old suspect used the service firearm of his aunt, an active police officer assigned to the Police Regional Office Eastern Visayas. The pistol recovered from the 15-year-old suspect was traced to his grandfather, a former security guard.
Based on police investigation, the older suspect fired only a single round during the attack, consistent with remaining live ammunition recovered from his firearm. The younger suspect allegedly discharged at least 40 rounds and was even able to reload his weapon by changing magazines while the shooting was ongoing.
Planned crime for over a month
Based on the exchange of messages between the minor suspects, it appears they planned the crime for over a month. Among the possible motives being examined are reports that both suspects had experienced bullying. Authorities are also looking into whether the 14-year-old's reported addiction to a violent mobile game may have influenced his behavior.
