The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) says a 15-year-old student suspected in a deadly shooting in Tacloban City showed “discernment,” based on information relayed by local social workers. DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian stated that “discernment” refers to awareness of right and wrong, and suggested this can be reflected in behaviors such as planning the act, attempting to hide it, and understanding possible consequences. He also noted that the assessment is being supported by the account of social workers who evaluated the circumstances around the incident.
DSWD has not concluded its assessment, and it says it is still awaiting official results from psychological evaluations involving both suspected minors: the 15-year-old shooter and a 14-year-old companion. The Department’s position, as described in the reports, is that the findings from social workers may indicate discernment, but formal psychological results are still pending for both individuals.
