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Policemen stand near the crime scene of a school compound after a shooting incident at a high school compound in Tacloban City, Leyte province on June 22, 2026.
AFP / Noel Sianosa
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has filed complaints against the 15-year-old suspect in the June 22 shooting in Tacloban City.
In an interview with GMA News on Wednesday, June 24, Police Regional Office 8 Public Information Office chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Analiza Armeza said the complaints were filed on the evening of June 23.
"We already filed the criminal complaint against the CICL (child in conflict with the law) who is above 15 years old last night with the Prosecutor's Office,” Armeza said.
Other media reports, citing PNP Public Information Office chief Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo, said the complaints filed were for multiple counts of frustrated murder and physical injuries.
The 15-year-old CICL, along with another 14-year-old, allegedly opened fire inside San Jose National High School on the morning of June 22.
The shooting left three people dead and 20 others injured.
Republic Act No. 9344, or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, states that children aged over 15 but below 18 may be held criminally liable if they acted with discernment.
However, because they are minors, they may be entitled to a suspended sentence upon conviction, which means they will not be immediately committed to prison.
Under Section 39 of the law, the court may dismiss the case and grant a final discharge to a child who was given a suspended sentence if a social worker certifies that all rehabilitation goals have been successfully completed.
However, if the CICL fails to meet the objectives of the intervention program or willfully violates its conditions, the child may be returned to court for the execution of the judgment.
According to initial police findings, the minor suspects played the game “GoreBox,” which authorities described as promoting “maximum destruction.”
In response, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center has ordered a temporary ban on the game.
Meanwhile, the Department of Justice said on June 23 that it is looking into the incident not as a simple case of bullying but as a possible manifestation of nihilistic violent extremism.
