40 bullet shells, 1 police-issued handgun recovered at Tacloban school shooting

Police said it recovered 40 bullet shells and recovered one police-issued firearm in the deadly shooting incident Monday at the San Jose National High School in Tacloban City that killed three people and left 11 others wounded.

According to a report by Sam Nielsen on Super Radyo dzBB, one of the two guns used in the incident is a 9mm Glock pistol issued to a Police Regional Office 8 female officer. She is also the aunt of one of the suspects.

The other weapon, a .38 caliber revolver, is registered to a security agency in Cebu City.

PNP Spokesperson Colonel Allen Rae Co said one of the suspects, even reloaded the police-issued handgun during the incident.

The two young suspects have been placed under police custody.

Meanwhile, the female police officer who owns one of the firearms is now under restrictive custody, according to PRO 8.

Authorities said one of the suspects brought the gun into the school inside a sling bag, while the other was not monitored by the school's security guard.

“Sad to say, ma’am, hindi nila, hindi talaga sila nag-i-inspect lalo na kung identified naman nila na student ng school, hindi po,” PRO 8 Spokesperson P/Maj. Analiza Armeza said on dzBB.

(Sad to say, ma'am, they really do not conduct inspections, especially if they have identified the person as a student of the school.)

The 14-year-old suspect, a relative of the police officer, will be exempted from criminal liability pursuant to Republic Act No. 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, according to Armeza.

“Exempted from criminal liability, however, ire-refer din namin 'yun for appropriate intervention ng City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO),” she added.

(He is exempted from criminal liability. However, we will still refer the minor for appropriate intervention by the CSWDO.)

Meanwhile, the 15-year-old suspect will be evaluated by the CSWDO, and if proven that he acted with discernment, appropriate cases will be filed against him.

“If ever man ma-convict siya… suspended sentence po yan kasi yung nga children in conflict with the law (CICL) sila,” Armeza said.

(If he ever is convicted... he will be given a suspended sentence because he is considered a CICL.)
—RF, GMA News