Local authorities have thwarted a planned “copycat” mass shooting at a public school in Leyte, the interior secretary said Thursday, June 25.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the suspect, a 14-year-old Grade 10 student identified by the alias “Jasmine,” had threatened to carry out a shooting and stabbing attack at Tolosa National High School on Wednesday night.

The alleged plot came just days after a shooting incident at a school in nearby Tacloban City, raising concerns about copycat violence.

Remulla said the plan was uncovered following a tip relayed by Sen. Bam Aquino at around 8 p.m. Wednesday, leading authorities to track down the student with the help of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

According to Remulla, the student posted threats on social media using multiple dummy accounts.

“Hello, send this to your friends. You from Tolosa, prepare yourselves. Get ready, I will disrupt the school. You won’t know me but you will recognize me,” Remulla quoted from one of the posts.

Authorities later determined that the student had no access to firearms, and neither did the parents.

Remulla said the suspect may have been influenced by the recent school shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban, describing the case as a “copycat” attempt.

“It is possible that she was influenced by the recent shooting,” he said.

Initial information also indicated that the student had been playing the banned game “GoreBox,” which was also reportedly played by one of the suspects in the Tacloban incident.

Remulla urged Congress to review the implementing rules and regulations of laws on gun ownership, as well as the country’s juvenile justice system.

The 14-year-old copycat was released after questioning by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).