Tacloban City school shooters had target, according to the police

MANILA, Philippines — The two suspects in the shooting incident at a Tacloban City high school allegedly had a target, according to the Police Regional Office Eastern Visayas (PRO 8).

In a phone interview with reporters, PRO 8 director Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy said police investigators were investigating whether bullying had motivated the two suspects—male Grade 9 students aged 14 and 15—to carry out the attack.

READ: Tacloban City school shooting suspects may have been bullied

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“According to one witness, when they got to the end of one corridor, the 15-year-old tried to verify whether their target was there. However, the person they were looking for was not there, so they went back,” Capoy said in Filipino.

“They then moved akin to tactical movement down the whole stretch of the corridor and randomly fired at windows,” he added.

The PRO 8 director did not identify the witness.

According to Capoy, the two suspects had entered the San Jose National High School through its entrance at different times and opened fire inside the premises around 9 a.m., killing at least three students and wounding several others.

Both suspects remain under the custody of the police and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Capoy said. /gsg

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