Department of Justice (DOJ) Undersecretary Ian Norman Dato delivers updates on the June 22 Tacloban City school shooting incident during a press conference on September 3, 2026. (Courtesy: DOJ / Screenshot)
The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday confirmed that the Office of the City Prosecutor (OCP) in Tacloban City ordered the filing of criminal charges against the 15-year-old student involved in the June 22 school shooting after determining that he acted with “discernment.”
In a press conference, DOJ Undersecretary Ian Norman Dato said the troubled teen was charged with four counts of frustrated murder and six counts of attempted murder, and is referred to as a child in conflict with the law (CICL).
The 15-year-old student was accused of “opening fire” in the incident at San Juan National High School. Prosecutors found that he acted with “discernment” and in conspiracy with a 14-year-old minor, Dato said.
The DOJ official added that 10 informations have now been filed before the Tacloban City regional trial court (RTC) against the CICL.
For the four counts of frustrated murder, the recommended bail is P72,000 for each count, amounting to a total of P288,000. For the six counts of attempted murder, the bail is P36,000 per count, totaling P216,000.
Following the inquest proceedings conducted after the June 22, 2026 shooting, OCP Tacloban filed five informations before the Family Court of the Tacloban City RTC on July 13, 2026, according to DOJ spokesperson Raphael Niccolo “Polo” Martinez.
Prior to this development, OCP Tacloban charged the 15-year-old CICL with three counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder for allegedly conspiring with a second, criminally exempt minor.
Martinez said the murder case is pending in court. Dato then explained how the prosecution determined the accused student’s discernment in accordance with the order involving the CICL.
Dato said it was first determined by a local social worker from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) before the prosecutors make their own assessment.
“If the CICL has shown his ability to distinguish between right and wrong and still proceeded to commit the wrong, so his acts prior, during, and after the incident would form the context within which to determine discernment,” he explained.
Dato said he believed prosecutors had looked into the documentary evidence and some psychological reports related to the accused student in the shooting incident.
As for the 14-year-old, Dato said the criminal process will not apply due to his exemption from criminal liability, but he will remain under the jurisdiction of a local social welfare and development office.
“The 14-year-old will come under the juvenile justice system mechanism, which is the mandate is to restore, restorative justice, and we would have to undergo intervention mechanisms or programs as appropriate or as may be determined by the DSWD,” Dato said.