Abbey M.

MANILA – The deadly shooting inside a classroom at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City that left three students dead and 20 others injured was planned for more than a month by the two suspects, both minors, police said Tuesday.

Eastern Visayas Police chief Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy said investigators found that the 14- and 15-year-old suspects had been planning the attack since April or May.

"Based on our information, as early as May 1, kung hindi ako nagkakamali (If I'm not mistaken). April or May pa nilang pinagplanuhan (They had been planning for it since April or May)," Capoy said in a phone interview with Camp Crame reporters.

Capoy said three students — two female and one male — were killed in the attack, while 15 sustained gunshot wounds and five were injured after jumping to safety.

He also expressed alarm over reports circulating online that the suspects had coordinated how to bring firearms into the school and were aware of the provisions of Republic Act 9344, or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act.

"Nakakabahala din dahil parang may alam sila. Inaral din nila. Nagbabasa din ng batas (It's alarming that they are familiar with the law)," he said.

Investigators said most of the bullets fired during the attack came from a Glock 9mm service firearm owned by a police officer, who is the aunt of one of the suspects.

He added that one of the suspects, the 14-year-old, was reportedly addicted to a mobile game called GoreBox, which supposedly features graphic violence and gun use.

Strong case

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. has ordered investigators to build a strong case against all individuals who may have enabled the minors to gain access to the firearms used in the attack.

He said separate administrative charges would be pursued against the policewoman who owns the 9mm pistol used by one of the suspects. The officer has been placed under restrictive custody while investigators also determine the liability of the security agency that owns the .38-caliber revolver recovered from the scene.

"With all the pieces of evidence available, I expect a solid case that can stand in court. Let this serve as a warning to all registered gun owners on the responsibility — and accountability — that comes with the privilege of owning firearms," Nartatez said in a statement on Tuesday.

National Police Commission (Napolcom) Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Rafael Vicente Calinisan said the agency would conduct a motu proprio investigation into the possible administrative liability of the policewoman.

"I have directed Napolcom Regional Director of Region 8 Dir. Risty Sibay to expedite their investigation. This investigation will run parallel, and in coordination with the investigation being conducted by the Philippine National Police," Calinisan said in a separate statement.

Nartatez stressed that police officers and other law enforcement personnel should fully understand the responsibilities that come with firearm ownership, as this is part of their training.

Parental guidance

The PNP chief also acknowledged public calls for justice but noted that the case involves minors and must be handled in accordance with existing laws and legal procedures.

He said the PNP would coordinate with the Department of Justice as the investigation progresses.

"Part of the investigation, however, is the determination of the accountability of the parents or guardians in relation to this unfortunate incident," he said.

Nartatez also called for stronger parental and school involvement in monitoring children's social media and gadget use following the incident.

"Parents and guardians serve as the first line of defense. They must be present and vigilant in their children's digital lives, treating their online activity with the same level of concern as their physical whereabouts," he said.

"We are also calling on our teachers and school administrators to act as our partners in this 'digital watch,' identifying early behavioral shifts or concerning interests in students so we can intervene long before any harm is done," he added.

Authorities are reviewing possible bullying angles and other social factors that may have contributed to the incident as part of a continuing investigation into the shooting.

Police investigators noted that one of the suspects had allegedly posted gun-related and violent videos online prior to the attack, including footage of himself firing a firearm. Authorities said these posts are now being examined as possible warning indicators that were not acted upon early.

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Ateneo de Manila Men's Basketball Team member Rene Clert Baterbonia has been laid to rest.

The funeral march began at 9:30 in the morning, moving from the Municipal Gymnasium of Talacogon, Agusan del Sur to the Talacogon Municipal Memorial Park.

Tears flowed from family members, friends, and supporters during his final moments.

Prior to the burial, Baterbonia's teammates and other personalities also attended the wake held the night before.

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The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group is set to conclude its investigation into the deaths of two Ateneo Blue Eagles basketball players by Thursday, with Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla announcing that recommendations will be submitted to the Department of Justice on Friday.

The investigation concerns the deaths of Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili, who drowned during an Ateneo Men's Basketball Team building activity in Aurora Province on June 8.

Remulla said the CIDG's findings are nearly complete and that the DOJ submission on Friday will cover.

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Malacañang has expressed support for increasing the budget of schools to hire security guards, as the Philippine National Police (PNP) prepares to issue recommendations on necessary measures to ensure safety within school premises.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered a review of existing security protocols in schools following a shooting incident at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City on Monday, June 22.

PNP Spokesperson Police Colonel Allen Rae Co said that aside from revising security measures, they will also recommend steps to ensure the safety of students, teachers, and other school personnel.

"Agad pong ipinag-utos ng ating Chief PNP unang-una po ang comprehensive review ng lahat po ng ito, existing security protocols na prevailing sa atin pong mga eskuwelahan. Ito pong access control and entry procedures, we are recommending na iyon pong mga schools na malalaki, na marami pong ingress at egress ay i-limit na lang po sa isa o dalawa para po mas ma-monitor natin ang mga pumapasok." (Our Chief PNP immediately ordered, first and foremost, a comprehensive review of all existing security protocols prevailing in our schools. On access control and entry procedures, we are recommending that larger schools with many entry and exit points limit these to just one or two so we can better monitor those who enter.)

The PNP also said it will strengthen coordination with barangays and introduce active shooter drills in schools.

"Also, papalakasin po natin iyong coordination mechanism between the law enforcement, the barangays, as well as the schools po natin. And isa pa po ay iyong we are planning to conduct simulation exercises kagaya po ng earthquake drills natin na kung saan ay matuturuan po ang ating mga estudyante at ating mga guro at lahat po kung paano po mag-react, kung ano po ang gagawin in crisis situations to include active shooter situation." (We will also strengthen the coordination mechanism between law enforcement, the barangays, and our schools. We are also planning to conduct simulation exercises similar to our earthquake drills, where our students, teachers, and everyone will be taught how to react and what to do in crisis situations, including active shooter situations.)

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro also expressed the administration's openness to allocating additional funds for the Department of Education to hire well-trained security guards for schools.

"Iyan po ay naitanong din po natin at kung kinakailangan po talaga ay kailangan pong magdagdag ng budget, kapag ito po ang pinag-uusapan natin para po sa seguridad ng ating mga kabataan at mga mag-aaral." (That was also raised, and if it is truly necessary to add to the budget, especially when we are talking about the security of our youth and students, then it must be done.)

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Iran has rejected claims by U.S. Vice President JD Vance that Tehran agreed to allow United Nations inspectors back into its nuclear facilities.

The Iranian government maintained that it has made no new commitments regarding inspections of the facilities bombed by the United States and Israel last year.

The U.S. and Iran issued conflicting statements following the first round of negotiations held in Switzerland on Sunday.

Vance had earlier said that one of the outcomes of the meeting was Iran's agreement to allow International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) representatives back in to inspect its nuclear facilities.

In a statement following the Switzerland negotiations, Vance claimed that Iran had agreed to allow IAEA inspectors back into the country, calling it a major step toward denuclearization.

"The Iranians have agreed to invite IAEA inspectors back into their country. That is a major milestone for the American people and the first step in permanently denuclearizing or permanently ending a nuclear weapons program in Iran."

["Ang mga Iraniano ay pumayag na imbitahan muli ang mga inspektor ng IAEA sa kanilang bansa. Iyon ay isang malaking tagumpay para sa mga Amerikanong mamamayan at ang unang hakbang sa permanenteng pag-aalis ng nuklear o permanenteng pagtatapos ng programang sandata nuklear sa Iran."]

Iran quickly denied the claim. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran has no plans to allow UN representatives into the nuclear sites bombed by the U.S. and Israel last year.

Baqaei flatly denied Vance's claims, stating that Iran held no meeting with the IAEA Director General and has no intention of allowing inspections of nuclear sites damaged in last year's strikes.

"We neither had a meeting with the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, nor do we have any plan for the Agency to inspect Iranian nuclear facilities damaged by the military aggression of the United States and the Zionist regime."

["Wala kaming pulong sa Direktor Heneral ng International Atomic Energy Agency, ni wala kaming plano para payagan ang Ahensiya na inspeksiyunin ang mga nuclear facility ng Iran na nasira dahil sa military aggression ng Estados Unidos at ng Zionist regime."]

Baqaei added that Iran would only abide by its existing obligations as a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and that no new commitments on inspections were made.

Reiterating Iran's position, Baqaei stressed that the country would only follow its existing commitments under the NPT and the Safeguards Agreement, with no new concessions given.

"As a member of the Non-Proliferation Treaty and a country committed to the Safeguards Agreement, we will continue the current routine."

["Bilang kasapi ng Non-Proliferation Treaty at isang bansang nakatuon sa Safeguards Agreement, magpapatuloy kami sa kasalukuyang gawi."]

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump insisted that Iran had fully agreed to wide-ranging nuclear inspections going forward, despite the denials. He also warned that negotiations would not proceed unless Iran agreed to the inspections, and that Washington could take strong action if Iran failed to honor what was agreed upon.

Despite Iran's denials, Trump warned that failure to honor any agreement would compel the U.S. to take necessary action.

"If Iran doesn't live up to their agreement or if they're not behaving, I will do what I have to do."

["Kung hindi susundin ng Iran ang kanilang kasunduan o kung hindi sila kumikilos nang tama, gagawin ko ang kailangan kong gawin."]

Despite the conflicting accounts from both sides, talks are set to continue over the next 60 days as negotiating groups are formed to focus on issues surrounding Iran's nuclear program, sanctions, and regional security.

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