DSWD Tightens Security at RRCY for Minors Linked to Tacloban School Shooting

Posted on July 21, 2026 at 4:03 am

PALO, Leyte — Security has been tightened at the Regional Rehabilitation Center for the Youth (RRCY) in Tanauan, Leyte, where two minors linked to the June 22 school shooting in Tacloban City are being held, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said.

DSWD Eastern Visayas Regional Director Grace Subong said additional security personnel have been deployed at the facility, with police also stepping up their presence.

“We have security guards assigned both outside and inside the facility, and we also have personnel conducting regular roving patrols,” Subong said.

The DSWD has also coordinated with the Leyte Police Provincial Office (LPPO) to strengthen security at the center.

Subong said DSWD officials recently met with LPPO Officer-in-Charge Col. Celerino Sacro Jr. to discuss security arrangements, emergency response plans, and coordination between the two agencies.

“We wanted to ensure the safety of the children at the RRCY and give the public peace of mind, so we coordinated with the provincial police,” she said.

A police officer has been assigned to each of the two minors, while another has been posted at the entrance of the rehabilitation center.

The facility has also made physical improvements, including raising its perimeter walls and installing steel grills in rooftop areas to prevent escape attempts.

Even with tighter security, Subong said the center remains focused on its primary role of rehabilitating children in conflict with the law.

“These are children in conflict with the law who are under suspended sentence. While security is important, we must also ensure that they stay in a child-appropriate facility where rehabilitation and healing can continue,” she said.

The two minors, identified by police only through the aliases “Nash,” 14, and “Rod,” 15, are among the suspects in the June 22, 2026, shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City. The attack left three students dead and 20 others injured.

Under the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, the 15-year-old suspect is facing criminal charges after investigators found that he acted with discernment.

The 14-year-old, however, is exempt from criminal liability because of his age and remains under the custody of the DSWD for mandatory intervention and rehabilitation.

Photo courtesy: RRCY 8 (Field Office VIII – DSWD)