23/06/2026
Statement of the Commission on Human Rights on the Tacloban school shooting incident
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) expresses grave concern over the tragic shooting incident that occurred at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, Leyte, on 22 June 2026, involving minors. We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the three students who lost their lives and offer our fervent hopes for the swift recovery of those who were wounded. This incident demands accountability, justice, and a rights-based response that protects the welfare and dignity of all children involved.
CHR, through its Regional Office VIII, has deployed a team to conduct a motu proprio investigation into the incident. We remain committed to monitoring the situation to ensure that the rights and dignity of all parties, including the victims, their families, and the suspects, are upheld and protected throughout the legal and restorative processes.
The involvement of two minors, aged 14 and 15, as the alleged perpetrators necessitates a careful and principled approach. While the Commission firmly calls for a thorough and impartial investigation to ensure absolute accountability and justice for the victims, authorities must likewise adhere to the provisions of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 (Republic Act No. 9344). Local government units, which are mandated to provide community-based interventions and support services for children in conflict with the law (CICL), must ensure that safeguards are fully observed and that said services are accessible in where these children live.
Schools, serving as children’s second homes, are mandated to be zones of peace and primary sanctuaries for the realization of the right to education. Any act of violence within these premises is a direct assault on the fundamental rights of children to learn and thrive in a secure, nurturing environment.
In this regard, CHR is also alarmed by other recent reports of violence in schools, including two separate stabbing incidents at Cavite National High School and Bethel Academy of General Trias in Cavite within the past week. These incidents underscore the urgent need to strengthen measures that prevent violence and protect learners. Our CHR Region IV-A office is also conducting its motu proprio investigation on these cases.
The Commission thus urges the State, the Department of Education, the Philippine National Police, and local government units to review and strengthen school safety protocols and physical security measures while ensuring that schools remain spaces for learning rather than militarized environments. There is likewise a need to strengthen proactive psychosocial interventions through an audit of the implementation of relevant child protection laws, including the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act and the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 (Republic Act No. 10627). Expanded mental health and guidance counseling services must also be made accessible in ways that do not expose students to stigma or discrimination.
CHR further calls for a thorough investigation into the source of and access to the fi****ms used in the incident to ensure that those responsible for securing them are held accountable under the law. Accountability must extend not only to those directly responsible for the violence but also to any administrative or security lapses that may have contributed to the tragedy.
We stress that children remain among the most vulnerable sectors of society because of their ongoing development and dependence on adults for care, protection, and support. They must be treated with appropriate legal, social, and psychological safeguards, always guided by the best interests of the child.
To this end, we appeal to the media and the public to refrain from sharing photographs or information that may identify the children involved, whether victims or CICL, in accordance with child protection and privacy standards.
The CHR reminds all sectors that accountability, child protection, and the pursuit of justice are not mutually exclusive. As the nation mourns this heartbreaking loss, we call on all concerned institutions to respond with urgency, compassion, and fidelity to human rights principles. Only through a rights-based and child-sensitive approach can we honor the victims, support those affected, and help prevent similar tragedies from happening again.
