MANILA, Philippines — A 15-year-old student accused of opening fire at San Juan National High School in Tacloban City will face 10 murder-related charges after prosecutors found that he acted with discernment and in conspiracy with another minor, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Thursday.
Justice Undersecretary Norman Dato said prosecutors in Tacloban ordered the filing of four counts of frustrated murder and six counts of attempted murder against the child in conflict with the law (CICL) over the June 22, 2026 shooting.
The 10 informations are to be filed before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Tacloban City. Prosecutors recommended ₱72,000 bail for each frustrated-murder count and ₱36,000 for each attempted-murder count.
Dato declined to provide additional details about the minor, citing strict confidentiality rules governing cases involving children.
He said prosecutors independently determined that the 15-year-old had discernment—the capacity to distinguish right from wrong—and proceeded to commit the acts despite knowing they were wrong.
Prosecutors considered the teenager’s acts before, during and after the shooting, along with documentary and psychological evidence, in making the determination.
The DOJ official also clarified that the initial assessment of discernment by social welfare authorities was not binding on prosecutors, who must make their own determination based on the evidence.
Following the June 22 attack at San Jose National High School, which left three students dead and at least 20 others injured, authorities arrested two suspects, aged 15 and 14. The 15-year-old is undergoing criminal proceedings, while the younger suspect is slated for intervention under Republic Act (RA) 9344 and its amendment, RA. 10630.
Under the Philippine juvenile justice framework, both suspects are classified as Child in Conflict with the Law (CICL) This classification emphasizes the state’s policy of restorative justice, ensuring that minors are dealt with through age-appropriate procedures rather than the same processes as adult offenders. Notably, identifying a suspect as a CICL is a classification based on age and accusation, not an established determination of guilt
The Tacloban case comes amid heightened scrutiny of how authorities respond to violence involving minors, particularly as the DOJ implements mechanisms for handling bullying-related incidents.
