Tacloban shooting fatalities remembered as families seek justice

One took the viral cellphone video of the shooting at the San Jose National High School on Monday morning. Another closed the door of the classroom to keep one of their armed schoolmates from firing at those inside. The third was seen bloodied while being carried from inside the school in an attempt to save her.

According to Emil Sumangil's report on "24 Oras," they were the three high school students who didn't survive the shooting at the public school on Monday. They were Joyancee Separa, Chris Lorenz Fabian, and Ayessa Nicole Dazo.

The grieving loved ones are asking for justice and accountability, not only from the two minors who shot up the school but also from their parents.

Two minors – one aged 14, the other 15 – went on a shooting spree at the high school on Monday morning. Three were killed, and 20 were hurt in the incident.

The suspects have been taken into custody, but the families of the victims are calling for justice and accountability.

'Sorry, Yassy'

“Gusto ko lang mag-sorry. Sorry, Yassy…I’m sorry, Yassy. Hindi na siya makapagsalita kung ano'ng nangyari sa kanya. Hindi na siya makapagsumbong sa akin,” said Jennylyn Badoria, Joyancee’s mother.

(I want to say sorry. I'm sorry, Yassy… I’m sorry, Yassy. She can no longer tell us what happened to her. She can no longer turn to me for help.)

“Akala ko ligtas anak ko dahil nasa paaralan, doon pala magtatapos buhay niya,” her father said.

(I thought my child was safe because she was in school, but that is where her life would end.)

Joyancee is a Grade 10 student who caught on camera the shooting incident, where her other schoolmates were also killed.

“Gusto ko pong makulong yung mga guardian ng mga bata na 'yun… yung mga may-ari ng baril. Hindi 'yun mapunta sa mga bata kung hindi galing sa kanila ‘yun,” said Jennylyn.

(I want the guardians of those children to be jailed... the owners of the firearms. Those weapons wouldn’t have ended up in the hands of those kids if they didn't come from them.)

'He closed the door'

In the video caught by Joyancee, a male student was seen trying to block the classroom door to save his classmates. The male student was Chris Lorenz Fabian, who embodied his Boy Scout training.

“Nakabukas po ang pintuan. Naririnig nila ang putukan. Sinarado niya ang pinto. Hinihila naman ng gunman ang pinto. Hindi niya binitawan, nagalit ang gunman. Binaril ang pintuan, lumusot po sa kamay at sa heart at lungs niya. Sabi nila, hero siya kasi kung hindi daw po niya ginawa 'yun, marami pang namatay sa mga kaklase niya,” said Aleth Fabian, grandmother of Chris Lorenz.

(The door was open, and they could hear the gunfire. He closed the door. The gunman tried to pull it open, but he didn't let go, which angered the gunman. The suspect shot through the door, and the bullet pierced his hand, heart, and lungs. They said he is a hero because if he hadn't done that, more of his classmates would have died.)

The viral video showed how Chris Lorenz fell after getting hit.

“Sabi niya, ‘iwanan niyo na ko...umalis na kayo. Iligtas niyo na ang sarili niyo’,” his grandmother recalled.

(He said, ‘Leave me behind... just go. Save yourselves.’)

'They must be jailed'

Meanwhile, 14-year-old Ayessa Nicole Dazo was even caught on video being carried outside the school after being hit by a bullet. However, she could not be saved.

“Hustisya, hustisya. Makulong. Hindi na nila mababalik ang buhay ng anak ko,” said Ariet Dazo, Ayessa Nicole’s mother.

(Justice, we want justice. They must be jailed. They can never bring my daughter's life back.)

Chris Lorenz’s younger brother was also hurt while running for his life.

“Pagkatapos nun, bigla silang pumunta sa Chico, namaril na sila,” he recalled.

(After that, they suddenly went to Chico [room] and started shooting.)

Her grandmother is convinced that it’s not simply a case of bullying.

“Hindi po 'yun bullying. Maraming bala ang ginamit. Kung bully 'yun eh di sana yung nam-bully sa kanya 'yun na lang yung pinuntirya. Bakit lahat ng estudyante ang pinuntirya? Hindi lang isa, marami, marami sila,” Aleth exclaimed.

(That wasn't a case of bullying. A lot of ammunition was used. If it were bullying, he should have targeted only the person who bullied him. Why target all the students? It wasn't just one—there were many of them, so many of them.)

'One tried to escape'

Following the shooting incident at the school, one of the two minor suspects reportedly attempted to escape by entering the residential compound of a student interviewed by GMA News.

“Ito po siya, yung pumasok sa bahay namin tapos lumabas po siya doon sa may laundry,” he said. “Wala na po siyang hawak na baril noon.”

(This is him, the one who entered our house and then exited through the laundry area. He was no longer holding a gun at the time.)

June 22nd is now forever scarred into the minds of the affected families. Healing will take time, as they continue to cry out for the justice they long for.

“It is important that we do a thorough investigation into what the real motive was. Let's not speculate,” said Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez. –Vince Angelo Ferreras/NB, GMA News