Romualdez, Duterte Visit Tacloban School Shooting Wakes as Families Demand Justice

In a recent ANC 24/7 report, Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez was shown visiting the wake of a student killed in the June 22 Tacloban school shooting. His visit today, alongside Vice President Sara Duterte's early morning arrival at the same wakes, underscores the national attention this tragedy has drawn and the growing demand from grieving families for justice and accountability.

Romualdez, Duterte Visit Wakes as Tacloban School Shooting Families Demand Justice and Lower Age of Criminal Responsibility

Tacloban City, Leyte — June 24, 2026 — The mothers of students killed in Monday's school shooting at San Jose National High School are speaking out publicly, demanding that the parents of the two minor suspects be held accountable and calling for Congress to lower the age of criminal responsibility as the Philippine National Police reveals new details about the premeditated attack.

Romualdez and Duterte Visit Wakes in Tacloban

Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez visited the wake of a victim at 10 AM today in Barangay San Jose, Tacloban City, Leyte, and pledged immediate financial assistance plus full congressional support for justice.

Vice President Sara Duterte arrived at the same wakes at 5 AM today and personally offered condolences to the three families whose children died at San Jose National High School. Duterte assured the mothers present that the national government will ensure the suspects face full accountability despite their ages.

Romualdez told relatives that the House of Representatives will launch formal inquiries into school violence across the country, citing the need for stronger security measures at public high schools under DepEd oversight. "We will not let this tragedy pass without meaningful action," Romualdez was quoted as telling the families at the wake.

Recounting the June 22 Attack at San Jose National High School

On June 22, 2026, at 9:20 AM PHT, two Grade 9 students aged 14 and 15 opened fire inside a classroom at San Jose National High School in Barangay San Jose, Tacloban City, Leyte, killing three students and wounding at least 20 others.

The 14-year-old suspect fired at least 33 rounds from a .45-caliber pistol that belonged to a PNP policewoman who is his aunt, reloading once during the attack before both suspects were arrested by responding officers. The second firearm used in the shooting was a registered handgun traced to a security agency based in Cebu City, which authorities are now investigating.

PNP officials confirmed the attack was premeditated, with the two suspects discussing their plan for more than a month through online chats that included specific details about timing and targets inside the school.

Mothers of Victims Speak Out Publicly

One mother whose son died in the shooting called for immediate passage of Senator Robinhood Padilla's bill to lower the age of criminal responsibility, stating that the current system allows minors to believe they can escape liability.

Another mother described how her 15-year-old son positioned himself at the classroom door to block the gunman, giving classmates time to escape before he was shot and killed at San Jose National High School. "Bayani nga siya, pero kapalit buhay niya — He was a hero, but it cost him his life," the grieving mother told reporters at the wake.

The mothers collectively demanded that parents of the two suspects be held criminally and civilly accountable, pointing to the policewoman-aunt whose PNP-issued firearm was used in the attack. Family members expressed frustration that the suspects appeared to have planned the assault while assuming their minor status would protect them under existing Philippine law.

Legal Proceedings and DOJ Investigation

Murder complaints were filed today against the 15-year-old suspect in the Tacloban City Prosecutor's Office, while the 14-year-old remains under PNP custody as authorities determine additional charges.

The policewoman-aunt of one suspect now faces both criminal and civil liabilities for the loss of her service firearm, with PNP internal affairs launching a parallel administrative case against her. PNP confirmed the suspects will not be released to their families pending the investigation.

The Department of Justice is examining possible links between the suspects' online activity and online extremism, moving beyond initial reports that focused solely on school bullying as a motive.

Classes Suspended Across Tacloban Schools

DepEd officials announced that classes remain suspended at San Jose National High School and at least five nearby public schools in Tacloban City as of today to allow for trauma counseling and security assessments.

Barangay San Jose leaders organized bayanihan support teams that delivered food and financial aid to affected families. Students from the wounded group continue to receive treatment at Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center in Tacloban, where medical staff reported stable conditions for most of the injured.

Local officials in Leyte province coordinated with the PNP to increase security at all secondary schools in the region while DepEd reviews its existing safety protocols.

Policy Debate Over Age of Criminal Responsibility

Senator Robinhood Padilla's pending bill to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 12 years old gained renewed attention after the Tacloban shooting. PNP leadership argued that the suspects' belief they could escape liability because of their ages highlights a gap in the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act that Congress must address through legislation.

Romualdez stated during his wake visit that the House will hold hearings on school violence and juvenile justice reform. Community leaders in Tacloban emphasized that any policy change must also include stronger parental accountability measures and better monitoring of firearms within police households.

Impact on Tacloban Families and Philippine Society

The three victims' families now face long-term emotional and financial burdens in Tacloban City, where many residents rely on daily wages and lack resources for extended mourning periods or legal battles. Residents across Leyte province expressed shock that such violence reached a public high school in Barangay San Jose, prompting renewed calls for community vigilance and stronger collaboration between schools and local police.

The incident has drawn national attention to the intersection of gun access, online radicalization, and juvenile crime in the Philippines, forcing lawmakers in both the Senate and House to confront these issues directly. Filipino families nationwide are watching how the justice system handles the Tacloban case, with many hoping the outcome will deter future attacks while holding all parties accountable, including adults who enabled access to firearms.

What to Watch For

The House of Representatives is expected to schedule committee hearings on school violence in the coming weeks. Senator Padilla's bill on the age of criminal responsibility is gaining renewed traction in the Senate. Meanwhile, the Tacloban City Prosecutor's Office will continue its preliminary investigation into the murder charges, and PNP internal affairs will determine the administrative liability of the policewoman-aunt. Families of the victims have vowed to pursue all legal avenues available to them under Philippine law.

By Bella Reyes, Staff Writer