Three are dead in the Philippines after a student opened fire at a school in what authorities describe as a revenge attack stemming from long-term bullying. The gunman, a teenager whose name has not been released, reportedly targeted classmates and a teacher at a high school in a rural province outside Manila. Sources close to the investigation confirm the shooter had a history of being bullied, and the attack was premeditated.
Police recovered a handgun and a cache of ammunition from the scene. The school had no metal detectors or security guards, a common omission in provincial institutions. Two students and a teacher died instantly.
Four others are hospitalised, two in critical condition. This is a developing story. The suspect is in custody and cooperating, but questions remain about how a minor obtained a firearm.
The Philippines has notoriously lax gun laws, and this incident is the latest in a disturbing pattern of school violence across the country. Unaccountable power, whether wielded by bullies or gun lobbyists, leaves bodies in its wake. Sources say the shooter's parents are filing a civil suit against the school for failing to protect their son from harassment.
The National Police chief has called for a review of security protocols in all schools, but critics dismiss it as a hollow gesture. The Department of Education has yet to comment. This is a tragedy that was years in the making, and the warning signs were there.
The question is who will be held accountable.