PNP: Both suspects in Tacloban shooting test positive for gunpowder

MANILA, Philippines — Both suspects in the fatal shooting incident at a Tacloban City high school tested positive for gunpowder in the paraffin test, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

A paraffin test determines the presence of gunpowder residue on a person’s hands, which may indicate if they had recently fired a gun.

“The paraffin examination of the two has been completed and they both tested positive for gunpowder nitrate,” PNP public information chief Col. Allen Rae Co said in an interview on DZMM on Tuesday night.

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READ: Guns in Tacloban shooting belong to suspect’s cop aunt, security agency

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The shooting incident occurred on Monday morning when two male students, aged 14 and 15, allegedly fired several gunshots inside the premises of the San Jose National High School, killing at least three students and wounding several others.

Both minors were taken into the custody of the police and the Department of Social Welfare and Development in accordance with Republic Act No. 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act.

READ: School shooting sparks talks on tighter social media use for minors

The 14-year-old suspect had allegedly used a 9mm pistol owned by his aunt, a police staff sergeant assigned to the Police Regional Office Eastern Visayas (PRO 8).

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Meanwhile, the 15-year-old suspect had allegedly used a caliber .38 revolver registered to a Cebu-based security agency where his grandfather had previously worked.

Co said the PNP was still investigating how the two guns ended up in the minors’ possession.

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“The policewoman has fully submitted herself to a thorough investigation as to how her nephew was able to take hold of her firearm,” he noted.

Earlier, PRO 8 director Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy said the police staff sergeant had been relieved from her post and will be investigated for alleged negligence in handling the firearm.

Addressing speculation that the 14-year-old suspect’s aunt had taught him to fire a gun, Co explained that some minor individuals participate in shooting competitions but are still required to undergo the proper documentation.

“This isn’t a cellphone. At the risk of sounding repetitive, you don’t really lend someone your gun. A gun only has three purposes: to kill, to kill, and to kill. It’s very dangerous if it’s in the wrong hands,” he said.

Capoy also previously told reporters that the 14-year-old suspect was a player of a “violent” online game called GoreBox.

“Suffice it to say that there are very strong indicators that the two students’ actions were heavily influenced by online content,” Co said.

He added that the PNP was also investigating photos circulating online showing one of the suspects wearing a shirt that reads “KMFDM,” which is similar to the shirt worn by one of the assailants in the 1999 Columbine High School massacre in the United States.

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“Firstly, it could be a coincidence, but it’s highly unlikely. We’re looking into it to see if this was part of an effort to be a copycat,” the PNP public information chief said. /cb