The family of one of the students killed in the deadly school shooting in Tacloban City is seeking justice, questioning whether the juvenile suspects behind the attack will be held accountable despite their age.
15-year-old Chriz Lorenz Fabian was among the three students who lost their lives during the shooting incident at San Jose National High School on Monday, June 22. According to reports and eyewitness accounts, Fabian died while attempting to protect his classmates by closing their classroom door as two armed students opened fire inside the campus.
His grieving grandmother made an emotional appeal for justice in an interview with GMA News, expressing frustration over the possibility that the suspects, both minors, could evade full accountability under the law.
“Porket bata hindi sila mananagot?” she said through tears.
“‘Yung mga may ari, nagbigay ng baril sa kanila, ‘yung mga tiyahin nila o ano nila ‘yun, tatay nila, paano ‘yun? Ganoon na lang ba ‘yun? Wala bang ano ito? Walang hustisya? Ganito na lang ba?” she added.
The shooting, considered one of the deadliest campus attacks in the Philippines in recent years, left three students dead and 20 others injured. Police said 15 of the wounded sustained gunshot wounds and remained hospitalized as of Tuesday, June 23, while five others suffered non-gunshot-related injuries.
Authorities identified the suspects as a 15-year-old Grade 9 student known as “Rod” and a 14-year-old student known as “Nash.” The two reportedly entered separate classrooms and fired at dozens of fellow students inside the school in Barangay 86, Tacloban City.
Police investigations revealed that the 9mm Glock pistol used in the attack allegedly belonged to a policewoman related to one of the suspects. The officer has since been questioned and relieved of her post while pending further investigation.
Fabian’s grandmother described her grandson as kind-hearted and denied allegations circulating online that he had bullied either of the suspects.
“Hindi po s’ya nang bubully. Siya po ‘yung binubully. Hindi po siya nang bubully. Mabait po ‘yung apo ko,” she said.
“Hindi po totoo ‘yung sinasabi nilang nabu-bully ‘yun, tignan niyo naman ‘yung katawan niya. Magaling po sila sa baril. Sinadya po nila ‘yun,” she added.
The suspects reportedly claimed they had been subjected to bullying, a possible motive now being examined by investigators. However, Fabian’s family believes the attack involved factors beyond school bullying.
His grandmother pointed to social media posts and conversations allegedly linked to the suspects, as well as their apparent familiarity with firearms, as reasons for authorities to conduct a deeper investigation.
“Hindi po ito bully kasi magagaling po sila magbaril, mamaril. Nakita naman po ninyo ‘yung mga pinopost nila, ‘yung mga cellphone nila maraming lumabas na issue sa mga conversation nila,” she said.
The family said they had moved away from their province in hopes of providing a better future for their children and grandchildren, only to face the tragedy.
“Pumunta po kami dito para mabigyan sila ng magandang kinabukasan pero ngayon ito po sila. Iniwan po namin ‘yung probinsya namin para makahanap buhay kami dito, mabigyan ng magandang kinabukasan ‘yung mga apo ko,” she lamented.
Police have classified the two suspects as children in conflict with the law. They are expected to be turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), which will handle the appropriate legal and intervention proceedings in accordance with the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act.
Meanwhile, authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack, including how the minors gained access to the firearm and whether other individuals may be held liable in connection with the incident.
