DOJ recommends charges against Police Staff Sergeant Arla Ray Pacencia over the June school shooting in Tacloban City that killed three students. (Screengrab from July 1, 2026, Senate Hearing)
THE Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday confirmed that the state prosecutor of Tacloban City has recommended the filing of criminal charges against a policewoman who owned the government-issued gun used by one of the suspects in the June 22 mass shooting at a Tacloban City high school.
The DOJ said a criminal complaint of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and serious physical injuries will be filed in the Family Court of the Regional Trial Court of Tacloban City against SSgt. Arla Ray Pacencia, aunt of a 14-year-old suspect in the San Jose National High School shooting that left three students dead and 20 others wounded.
DOJ spokesman Polo Martinez declined to give further details of the case.
“What is certain is that, after evaluating the evidence, OCP Tacloban found prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction to charge the respondent with reckless imprudence,” Martinez added.
Pacencia allegedly owned the PNP-issued service firearm used by her 14-year-old nephew in the school shooting.
She also reportedly admitted that she had taken her nephew to a firing range because the teenager wanted to become a police officer like her.