Who are the critically injured victims in Tacloban shooting?

The Tacloban school shooting had 23 victims—three of them died and two are critically wounded and are still fighting for their lives.

They are Nethan Candelario and Joan Viñas.

Nethan is a 15-year-old student, the third of four children, and dreams of being a seaman.

"Talagang masakit sa ginawa nila na hindi maganda. Kahit ako talagang naiyak ako sa ginawa nila talagang hindi maganda. Kahit sinong tatay kung ano ginawa nila parang gusto kong gawin din,” said Nethan's dad, Erwin Candelario.

(It really hurts; what they did is not right. I couldn't help but cry because what they did was truly awful. Any father would feel like doing the exact same thing to them after what they did.)

Three of Candelario’s children study at San Jose National High School.

“Parang nadurog talaga yung mundo ko na ganun ang nangyar,” Candelario said.

(It felt like my whole world had completely shattered when that happened.)

"Laban lang, laban,” Nethan's dad added.

(Just fight. Keep fighting.)

Joan, meanwhile, is the youngest among her siblings. Her ambition is to be a nurse.

Seventeen-year-old Joan, meanwhile, was shot in the head.

Her mother, Rowena Eracho, said she regrets allowing her daughter to go to school despite not feeling well.

“Sana hindi ko na lang pinayagan ang anak ko pumasok kasi sabi niya, ma, parang maano ‘yung katawan niya raw...mabigat. Sabi ko, ikaw… kung papasok ka kasi may report daw sila. Nagpumilit siyang pumasok so pinayagan ko,” Joan's mom said.

(I wish I hadn't allowed my child to go to school because she said, 'Mom, my body feels... heavy.' I said, 'It's up to you... if you want to go,' because she mentioned having a presentation that day. She insisted on going, so I let her.)

Eracho said she passed out when she saw her daughter being rescued while lying on the stretcher. At present, Joan’s eyes are still severely swollen from the head trauma.

“Sabi ko lord… bigyan niyo pa ko ng isa pang pagkakataon na mabuhay ang anak ko…. Pangarap niya talagang maging nurse na maiahon kami,” Eracho said.

(I prayed, 'Lord, please give my child another chance to live.' Sher dreams of becoming a nurse and lift us out of poverty.)

Justice

Alongside the families of the three deceased victims, Nethan and Joan’s parents are demanding justice and accountability for their children.

“Hindi makatarungan ‘yon… Talagang hustisya po kailangan namin para sa mga biktima,” Candelario said.

(This is so unjust… We desperately need justice for the victims.)

“Gusto kong makulong yung mga bata o kaya pati mga magulang magsama-sama sila. Hustisya talaga,” Eracho added.

(I want those children imprisoned, and even their parents should be locked up right along with them. We want real justice.)

Out of the 15 wounded students, six were females, and nine were males.

The shooters were identified as students aged 14 and 15.

Bullying?

Initial interviews with the two children in conflict with the law (CICL) raised the possibility that the shooting was triggered by the bullying experienced by the shooters, however, authorities say that it has not yet been established.

Parents of the victims had denied that their children were involved in bullying.

Police are also looking into the potential influence of the video game, Gorebox, on the violent behavior of the two minors involved in the incident.

Under Republic Act No. 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, children 15 years old and below are exempt from criminal liability.

According to the Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson P/Col. Allen Rae Co, alias Rod, the alleged 15-year-old shooter, is considered “above 15” because the days past his 15th year are included in the count.

Rod will undergo an assessment by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to determine if he acted with discernment—if proven that he did, he will undergo regular trial while still adhering with child protection protocols.

Meanwhile, alias Nash, the alleged 14-year-old shooter, will be placed as mandated in a DSWD child protection facility.

Nash's aunt, a police officer from whom one of the firearms was obtained, has been placed under restrictive custody. —VAL, GMA News