Authorities said they prevented another alleged school shooting threat targeting Tolosa National High School in Tolosa, Leyte, after identifying a 14-year-old student linked to threatening social media posts.
During a news briefing at Camp Crame, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said he received information from Sen. Bam Aquino about a possible attack at the school. The report was immediately verified, and authorities confirmed the existence of the online threats.
According to the Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8), the investigation conducted by the Leyte Police Provincial Office’s Provincial Intelligence Unit and the Tolosa Municipal Police Station identified a junior high school student as the individual behind the posts. Police said the minor allegedly created and used multiple dummy Facebook accounts to spread the threats.
Authorities coordinated with the student’s family and carried out the necessary interventions. The case was referred to the appropriate agencies for counseling and other actions under existing child protection laws and policies.
PRO-8 said there was no information indicating an organized plot or the involvement of other individuals in carrying out the alleged threat.
Remulla said investigators also learned that the girl played the violent video game GoreBox. He said authorities are looking into the possibility that the minor intended to imitate the recent shooting at San Jose National High School that left three people dead and several others injured.
The girl was brought to the Social Welfare Office for an interview before being returned to her family because no crime had been committed.
Remulla also renewed his call for a permanent ban on GoreBox, the passage of new legislation on firearm safety, and a review of the implementing rules and regulations governing gun ownership.
Meanwhile, PRO-8 ordered all police units across Eastern Visayas to strengthen intelligence monitoring, increase police visibility around schools, and coordinate closely with local government units and educational institutions. The agency also urged the public to avoid spreading unverified information and to rely only on official government updates.
