The Department of Education (DepEd) – Schools Division of Leyte has strongly condemned the shooting incident that left a public school teacher wounded inside the Tanauan School of Craftsmanship and Home Industries (TSCHI) in Barangay Canramos, Tanauan, Leyte, on Thursday morning, Oct.16.
Police identified the victim only by her alias ‘Elize,’ 48, a Master Teacher and resident of Barangay Sto. Niño, Tanauan. The suspect, her estranged husband ‘Adam,’ 46, who is reportedly jobless, was arrested shortly after the incident.
According to the Tanauan Municipal Police Station, the shooting occurred around 7:23 a.m. A concerned citizen alerted authorities, prompting a quick police response. Upon arrival, officers found the suspect armed with a bladed weapon locally known as a ‘balisong’ and attempting to harm himself. He was pacified and taken into custody without further incident. Investigators said the suspect entered the school premises and shot the victim without warning, hitting her in the right shoulder. The suspect later threw the firearm – a homemade .38 caliber ‘paltik’ revolver – onto the roof of a nearby building. The victim was immediately rushed by a co-teacher to ACE Hospital in Tacloban City.
Police believe jealousy and marital issues were behind the attack, as the couple had reportedly been separated and the suspect allegedly accused his wife of having an affair.
In an official statement issued Thursday afternoon, DepEd-Leyte said the school promptly coordinated with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and local authorities to ensure a thorough investigation and that justice is served. The division office also deployed an investigation team and directed the submission of a comprehensive incident report. Classes at TSCHI, which has a 1,942 student population, were temporarily suspended and shifted to the Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) to support learners’ psychological recovery. Regular face-to-face classes will resume on October 21. Psychosocial support services have been extended to affected learners and personnel and will continue until next week.
DepEd-Leyte noted that the safety and welfare of learners and school personnel remain its top priority, reaffirming its commitment to maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment.
The division also expressed gratitude to the local government unit, PNP, and barangay officials for their swift response to the incident. INQ