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Bangkok.- Three high school students died and seven others were injured in the Philippines in a shooting that occurred this Monday at a high school in the city of Tacloban, on the central island of Leyte, according to authorities.
n” “nOn its Facebook page, the Police confirmed that the incident occurred around 9:00 local time (1:00 GMT) at the San José National High School and left a toll of three dead and seven injured -although they initially reported five-, who were taken to hospitals.
n” “nIn the document, the authorities reported the arrest of two suspects, both minors, one of them a ninth-grade student at the high school.
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The police are now seeking to “determine the motive and circumstances of the incident, while continuing to reinforce security measures and coordinating with school officials,” says one of the statements.
n” “nThe Department of Education confirmed that the three deceased were high school students and ordered psychological support to be provided to those who witnessed the incident, while also calling for the privacy of the victims’ families to be respected.
The state-run Philippine News Agency (PNA) showed images of the second suspect, who was detained by a group of local residents, according to the public media outlet.
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For his part, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered “a thorough investigation” and to ensure the protection of schools, said presidential palace spokesperson Claire Castro.
n” “nThrough social media, internet users and local media in the Philippines have shared videos that allegedly show the moment of the shooting inside a classroom, in which several gunshots and screams can be heard.
n” “nIn July 2022, three people died—including a former mayor of a municipality on the island of Basilan, in the southeast of the country—and two were injured during a shooting at the Ateneo de Manila University, for which one person was arrested.
n” “nThe carrying and possession of weapons are regulated in the Philippines, which requires psychiatric and drug use tests, training in the handling of these devices, and a clean criminal record for those who wish to obtain a license.
n” “nHowever, thousands of illegal firearms circulate in the country and have caused numerous incidents in recent years, according to police reports cited by the PNA.
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