TIMELINE: PNP investigators piece together events in Tacloban shooting

The Philippine National Police on Tuesday pieced together details that it formed into a timeline of the deadly shooting incident that occurred at the San Jose National High School in Tacloban City on Monday, June 22, 2026.

In Ivan Mayrina’s report on Tuesday’s 24 Oras, the PNP summarized the tragic event beginning with the weekly start of school.

7:30 a.m.
Alias Nash, the alleged 14-year-old gunman, arrives at the school. After attending the flag ceremony, he proceeds directly to the comfort room.

8:00 a.m.
Alias Rod, the alleged 15-year-old shooter, arrives at the school. He meets Nash inside the comfort room.

9:00 a.m.
Nash and Rod emerge from the comfort room and walked around the school compound. They said they went to look for one of their possible targets who they failed to find.

9:20 a.m.
Unable to find the person they were looking for, the shooting begins.

Police Brigadier General Jason Capoy said a witness recounted that when the duo reached the end of a corridor, Rod, who was supposed to verify their target, said he could not find the person they were looking for. Emulating “tactical movement” and without warning, the duo began firing into windows.

Police claimed they responded within two minutes of the shooting.

9:30 a.m.
Two responding officers were able to restrain Rod who was allegedly armed with a .38 caliber revolver handgun that had five live rounds inside its chambers. Police translated this to Rod firing one shot.

11:15 a.m.
Nash, the other shooter, was “taken into custody by a civilian”, police said. Seized from the teenager was a bag containing a Glock 17 9mm semi-automatic pistol, a foldable baton. Also recovered was a bonnet, a white sweatshirt, vest, firearm holster and a white t-shirt.

Arming themselves
Authorities said Nash fired the Glock at least 34 times. He reloaded a magazine at least once during the incident. Two magazines were recovered: one inside the handgun and another from near the site where he was caught.

Police said Nash’s weapon fired the fatal shots that killed the three fatalities. All of them were students.

Investigation revealed the 9mm pistol was the service firearm of Nash’s aunt, a police staff sergeant and a lawyer. Under police custody, she admitted taking Nash to the firing range and that he was taught how to shoot a gun. She also said she left the firearm in her home.

Capoy said the aunt came from the flag raising ceremony. She said her nephew entered her house via a window and took her gun.

Meanwhile, the revolver used by Rod is registered to a security agency in Cebu where his grandfather was a security guard.

“Hindi nagpaalam. Nalingat si lolo or pumunta sa work,” Capoy surmised.

(He did not ask permission. His grandfather failed to notice or he left for work.)

Bullying claims

Police said they are not convinced of the claims made by the two alleged shooters that they were bullied and were just going to get even by scaring their tormentors.

Investigators are now looking at the possibility that the two teenagers, who are now classified as Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL) could have been incited to carry out the shooting and that the whole thing was planned.

Police said there are indications that some groups or online content could have influenced the teenagers and are now looking into these.

In an alleged group chat of the suspects, they supposedly discussed that since they were minors, they would not be held liable for their actions under the law. Capoy said the information is disturbing since it seems they studied the law and how it applies to their actions.

Monday’s shooting and earlier violent incidents where minors were also involved has magnified calls that current laws should be amended to lower the age of criminal age of responsibility of which the PNP expressed its support.

The current Marcos administration said it is open to the said calls. It added it is also open to stricter policies on social media platforms and online games that could have a negative effect on the youth. —RF, GMA News