2 Tacloban school shooting victims in critical condition as families demand justice

Two of the 15 high school students who were shot in the Tacloban shooting on Monday are in critical condition – one was hit in the head, the other in the intestines – and their families are crying for justice.

According to Emil Sumangil's exclusive report on "24 Oras," Grade 10 student Joan Vinias suffered a gunshot wound to the head while Grade 9 student Nathan Candelario was shot in the stomach.

Her mother, Rowena Eracho, said Joan wasn't feeling well on Monday morning and was considering skipping school that day.

A school report, however, made her go.

“Nagpumilit siyang pumasok. Pinayagan ko," Rowena said.

(She insisted on going to school, and I allowed her.)

Rowena said she later learned that there was a shooting incident at the San Jose National High School, where her daughter went.

Two minors – a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old – shot at their schoolmates on Monday morning. Three of them died because of the shooting spree.

They have been taken into custody, with the 15-year-old getting slapped with complaints for murder and frustrated murder. The police had determined that he acted with discernment.

Rowena said it was in the hospital that she saw Joan, lying on a stretcher.

“Pagkita ko si Joan. Nawalan ako ng malay," Rowena said.

(I saw Joan and I passed out.)

“Bakit ganu’n? Bakit yung mga bata pumasok nang may baril?” Rowena said.

“Lord, bigyan mo ako ng isa pang pagkakataon na mabuhay ang anak ko. Gusto talaga niyang maging nurse,” she added.

(Why did this happen? Why did those children come to school carrying guns? Lord, please give me one more chance for my daughter to live. She really wanted to become a nurse.)

Rowena said she wants to see the teen shooters behind bars, together with their parents.

Erwin Candelario, Nathan's father, expects "slow recovery" for his son after he was in the intestines.

"Sa ilalim ng pusod. Tumagos sa tagaliran," Erwin said.

"Tatlong butas sa bituka," he added.

(He was shot below the navel. The bullet exited through his side. He sustained three holes in his intestine.)

“Kahit sino naman po. Talagang masakit yung ginawa nila. Hindi magnda," Erwin said.

“Hustisya po. Talagang kailangan namin," he added.

(Anyone would be deeply hurt by what they did. It was terrible... We need justice. That's what we are asking for.) –NB, GMA News