Manila: Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara on Tuesday called for a deeper understanding of children's behavior following initial findings that the deadly shooting at the San Jose National High School was a well-planned attack.

According to Philippines News Agency, Angara, during his visit, emphasized the need for a cautious approach in determining the motive behind the attack, suggesting that it is too early to conclude that bullying was the primary factor. He highlighted that the suspects had allegedly been planning the attack for several months, which indicates a deeper issue at play.

One suspect had been absent from school for about a week due to an activity in Manila and launched the attack upon returning. Angara revealed that the suspects had a group chat where they discussed their intentions, pointing towards premeditated actions.

Angara urged parents and teachers to be more vigilant and supportive, emphasizing the importance of understanding children's behavior and being aware of potential harmful influences. He pointed out that children today are often exposed to violence online and that many have parents working in other provinces, which can impact their development and behavior.

He also stressed the importance of accountability for those who provided the firearms used in the attack, questioning how the suspects were able to access such weapons. It was confirmed that one of the firearms belonged to a police officer, who is the aunt of one suspect and has since been relieved and placed under restrictive custody. The other weapon was traced to a security agency in Cebu.

The suspects are currently under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and are undergoing procedures for children in conflict with the law. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of three lives and left 20 others injured, affecting a total of 23 victims.