Families of school shooting victims tell shocking stories on 'Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho'

Trigger warning: This article mentions gun violence

In past weeks, shooting incidents inside and outside schools have sparked alarm across the Philippines. 

As news of students shooting classmates or teachers made headlines, some faculty members have been resigning due to safety concerns.

Balabagan Trade School

"Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho" visited Balabagan Trade School in Lanao Del Sur, where Danilo, a 37-year-old Filipino teacher, was shot in the head by a guy wearing a hoodie, as per witnesses.

Danilo was immediately brought to the hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival. The suspect escaped.

Authorities quickly launched a hot pursuit operation to locate the suspect. With the help of the suspect's sibling, he was found three days later in the town of Marogong and is now in the custody of the Balabagan Municipal Police Station.

Cherry Rose, Danilo's sister, told "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho" that Danilo is a kind person, who is professional inside the school while remaining friends with his students outside.

"Umiyak po ako. Sobrang lungkot. Kasi minsan lang kami magkita. Tapos 'yung pagkikita namin patay na siya. Hindi ko maipaliwanag 'yung nararamdaman ko," she said.

["I cried and felt so sad. We only got to see each other once in a while, and now he's already gone. I can't even explain what I feel.]

The suspect, "Allen," is a first year college student of Danilo. "Allen" was given an incomplete grade by his teacher, but he said that this is not the reason why he shot him.

"Allen" used a caliber 45 pistol owned by his deceased father, which he kept in case of feuds.

"'Yung pananalita ni Sir, masasakit, hindi ko natiis," he said.  "Pinapahiya na ako. Parang hindi niya ako tinatratong estudyante roon."

["My teacher's words were painful, I couldn't bear them. He was humiliating me, as if he wasn't treating me like a student anymore."]

"Kasi may ano na ako sa kanya... galit," he added.

["I already feel anger towards him."]

However, it was not just Danilo who gave him a problematic grade. "Allen" said that he planned on approaching his other teachers who failed him. "Allen" also added that doesn't have any plan on harming his other teachers.

According to the police, "Allen" was advised to see the guidance counselor to fix the issue, but he took it negatively.

"Pinapaaral kasi siya ng kanyang kapatid. So dahil siguro sa takot na mapagalitan siya ng kuya niya, hindi siya maka-proceed to 2nd year level, ayun. Ang solusyon niya, binaril niya." 

["It was his brother who sent him to school. Maybe because he was afraid of being scolded for not moving up to the second year, that became his solution—he shot him."]

Cherry Rose said they plan on filing a case against "Allen."

"Allen" meanwhile said he is now regretting his actions.

"Gusto kong malaman nila, nagsisisi na ako sa ginawa ko. Hihingi lang ako Sir ng tawad sa kanila. 'Yun lang po."

["I want them to know, Sir, that I regret what I did. I just want to ask for their forgiveness, Sir. That's all."]

Because of the incident, Danilo's fellow teachers plan on resigning or transferring to other schools.

The Balabagan Trade School has yet to release an official statement and declined an interview.

Santa Rosa Integrated School

Another alarming incident was in Santa Rosa Integrated School in Nueva Ecija on August 7.

Both victims were students, Grade 8 student Zhane and her ex-boyfriend, 18-year-old Menard. Menard shot Zhane before shooting himself in a classroom.

The ex-couple used to be schoolmates. It was in 2023 when they got together.

Menard's mother is an OFW in Dubai, and Zhane's mother Elvie is his second mother.

Elvie said that Menard would come to her whenever he has family problems, and said he felt ignored by them.

"Sabi niya, 'Tita, may problema. Lagi niya pong inaano sa akin 'yung magulang niya, kapatid niya. Hindi na nga daw po siya pinapansin. 'Yun po sanang gusto niya 'yung ma-comfort siya, wala po siya mapagsabihan, kaya sa akin po nagsasabi," Elvie said.

["He said, 'Auntie, there's a problem. He keeps bringing up his parents and siblings to me. He said that they're not even talking to him anymore. What he really wanted was someone to comfort him, but since he had no one to talk to, he would confide in me.'"]

Elvie also knew about Zhane and Menard's relationship, as they were open about their problems.

When Menard and Zhane eventually broke up, their families decided to put them in separate schools so they could focus on their studies.

In their new school, Zhane was rumored to be pregnant.

"Tumawag sa akin na iyak na nang iyak at ipakulong na nga daw po namin. Sabi ko, 'Tatagan mo 'yung loob mo d'yan, saka huwag kang umiiyak. Hindi naman totoo.' Kinomfort na lang din nu'ng adviser," Elvie said.

["She called me, crying uncontrollably, and told us to have those people jailed for what they were saying. I told her, 'Be strong there, and don't cry. It's not true.' The adviser also tried to comfort her."]

The rumor reached Menard. Angered, he took to Facebook to vent but quickly deleted his post. He had written, "Nagmahal ako nang totoo. Ginawa ko lahat para sa'yo. Hanggang kamatayan na 'to. Ikaw lang 'yung babaeng panghabambuhay ko, Zhane Entinado. Hiling ko sana maging masaya ka na. Bahala na kung ano ang kalalabasan ng mangyayari. Mamatay man ako."

["I loved you for real. I did everything for you. This is it—until death. You're the only woman I'll love for the rest of my life, Zhane Entinado. I just hope you'll be happy. Whatever happens, happens— even if I die."]

After deleting the post, Menard apologized to Elvie but she was not ready to forgive.

"Nasabi ko pa sa kanya, 'Mula ngayon huwag mo na ako matawag-tawag na tita.' Tapos binago ng anak ko 'yung account niya. Hindi na siguro niya mabuksan. Parang doon na niya napagsama-sama na 'yung isipin niya," she said.

["I even told him, 'From now on, don't ever call me 'auntie' again. Then my child changed his account. Maybe she couldn't access it anymore. It seems that's where all his thoughts came together."]

On August 7, Menard headed to Zhane's school with a gun. After several attempts, he was able to enter the classroom.

According to the Santa Rosa Police, Menard wanted to speak to Zhane outside. But when Zhane refused, he entered the classroom, and shot her before shooting himself.

Zhane was brought to the emergency room where she fell into a coma. After a week, she passed away, whereas Menard died earlier.

Menard's friend Harry said they had no idea about what he had planned. "Wala naman po siyang nakukuwento sa amin about doon. Hindi namin alam na gagawin niya 'yun," he said.

["He never told us anything about his plan. We had no idea he was going to do that."]

Menard's cousin Kerby said, "Nagkamali lang po si Menard dahil nga po sa pagmamahal po niya. Sana po mapatawad po nila."

["Menard just made a mistake because of his love. I hope they can forgive him."]

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police is still tracing where Menard got the gun.

Esmer said he had no idea where it came from.

"Matagal ako naging tanod pero hindi ako nagdadala ng baril tsaka batuta," he said. "Inisyuhan ako ng baril pero hindi ko man lang minsan naiuwi dito sa bahay. Dahil ayaw ko, umaalis ako palagi."

["I've been a barangay tanod for so long, but I never carried a gun or even a baton. I was issued a gun for work, but I never even brought it home—I didn't want to."]

A lawyer said that a case may be filed against Menard's family if there is proof that he is a neglected child.

The Santa Rosa Integrated School remains quiet about the incident. They suspended classes for a week and held a mass.

The series of school shootings this month have deeply concerned the Department of Education. —JCB, GMA Integrated News