Grandmother of Tacloban shooting victim cries for justice

“Porket bata hindi sila mananagot?”

This is the cry of the grandmother of one of the victims in the tragic shooting incident at a private school in Tacloban City that left three students dead and numerous others injured.

“Pumunta po kami dito para mabigyan sila ng magandang kinabukasan pero ngayon ito po sila. Iniwan po namin ‘yung probinsya namin para makahanap buhay kami dito, mabigyan ng magandang kinabukasan ‘yung mga apo ko,” she said in an interview with GMA News' Emil Sumangil.

(We came here so they could have a better future, but now this is what has happened to them. We left our province to earn a living here and give my grandchildren a better future.)

“Paano pa niya matitikman ‘yun? Andyan na siya. Asan ‘yung hustisya dito?”

(How can my grandchild still experience that? My grandchild is gone. Where is the justice in this?)

The shooting incident took place inside the San Jose National High School in Barangay San Jose, Tacloban City around 9 a.m. on Monday, June 22, 2026.

The two minors allegedly involved have been placed under police custody.

“‘Yung mga may ari, nagbigay ng baril sa kanila, ‘yung mga tiyahin nila o ano nila ‘yun, tatay nila, paano ‘yun? Ganoon na lang ba ‘yun? Wala bang ano ito? Walang hustisya? Ganito na lang ba?” the grandmother said.

(The owners, the ones who gave them the guns, the aunts, or whoever they were, their fathers. What about that? Is that just how it is? Is there nothing to be done? No justice? Is this really all there is to it?)

She also denied that her grandchild was involved in bullying.

“Siya po ‘yung binubully. Hindi po siya nang bubully. Mabait po ‘yung apo ko,” she said.

“Hindi po totoo ‘yung sinasabi nilang nabu-bully ‘’yun, tignan niyo naman ‘yung katawan niya. Magaling po sila sa baril. Sinadya po nila ‘yun,” she added.

(My grandchild did not bully anyone. My grandchild was the one being bullied. My grandchild is a kind person. What they're saying that my grandchild is a bully is not true.)

One of the students taken into custody reportedly posted gun-related and violent videos online before the incident, including one showing himself firing a gun, according to police.

The police have urged parents and teachers to monitor children's use of social media and gadgets. — RSJ, GMA News