Tacloban, Philippines—Three students are dead following an eruption of gunfire inside San Jose National High School. The shooting began mid-morning on Monday while classes were in session. Two students, aged 14 and 15, were taken into custody shortly after the attack.

Police say the suspects are both Grade 9 students at the school. Panic spread through the campus as the sounds of shots rang out in the classrooms. Police Regional Office 8 director Jason Capoy confirmed the casualty count.

Seven other students sustained wounds and are currently receiving medical attention. Most of the victims were identified as Grade 9 pupils. The gunmen allegedly targeted specific individuals during the chaos.

The first suspect was apprehended on the school grounds immediately following the gunfire. The second student fled the scene but was later located in Barangay 87. Residents in the area assisted local police in finding the youth. He was taken into custody without further incident.

Witnesses described the scene as chaotic. Students and teachers rushed to find cover as the gunmen moved through two separate classrooms. The suspects reportedly used pistols to carry out the attack. Police are now tracing the origins of the weapons.

The school has been placed under a high-alert status. The Department of Education suspended classes at San Jose National High School and nearby institutions. Authorities remain on-site to secure the perimeter and collect evidence.

Official questioning of the suspects has begun. Both boys had no prior criminal records before this incident. The Department of Social Welfare and Development is now handling the suspects due to their status as minors.

Investigators are trying to establish the underlying cause of the violence. The provincial government is now coordinating with police to boost security. Parents gathered outside the school gates seeking information about their children. The mood remains tense as the town begins to process the scale of the loss.