Alyas ‘Nash,’ one of the two minor suspects in the Tacloban school shooting, shot his own best friend in the back and had reportedly been acting strangely hours before the attack, the victim’s sister told a Senate hearing on Wednesday, July 1.

Janica Mae Bituin said her younger brother, Jerick Bituin, was close friends with the 14-year-old suspect and had been his classmate in Grade 8.

Jerick was among the students wounded when two minors, aged 14 and 15, opened fire at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, leaving three students dead.

Janica described the friendship between Jerick and Nash as close, saying they had long been classmates and part of the same circle of friends.

“Mabait po siyang bata at friendly, magkaibigan po sila ni Nash—nung dalawang suspek, mag-classmate sila nung Grade 8 sila. Pero ‘yung best friend niya is ‘yung Nash,” Janica said.

She recounted that on the morning of June 22, a teacher instructed students to prepare for a drawing activity when a loud explosion-like sound was heard from a distance.

As the noise grew closer and students began panicking, the class was told to take cover.

According to her account, Jerick later saw two suspects—identified as Ron and Nash—near a classroom window, with Nash reportedly wearing a mask and appearing to be the only one carrying a firearm. The suspects then moved to another classroom before returning.

Janica said that as Jerick was relocating within the classroom on the teacher’s instruction, Nash was already positioned behind them.

“After non dumapa raw si Jerick then after non, sumilip siya sa may bintana nakita niya yung dalawang suspek, ‘yung Ron at Nash. pero yung Nash nakamask daw. Tapos si Nash lang daw ‘yung nakita niyang may dalang baril," she said.

“Nung lilipat na si Jerick, hindi po nila namalayan na si Nash nasa likod na pala ng classroom nila papatayo pa lang siya binaril siya, doon siya binaril, nakatalikod siya,” she said in substance.

She added that the bullet entered through her brother's back, exited through his neck and jaw, and left him with a fractured jaw

Jerick underwent surgery on Tuesday, June 30, and remains under observation as doctors monitor his recovery.

Janica also said her brother described Nash as previously cheerful, friendly, and socially active.

“Dati daw masayahin daw po si Nash, tapos joker din daw po kasi may circle of friends o sila niyan,” she said.

On the day of the shooting, Janica said her brother recalled seeing Nash attending their flag ceremony and asked where their other friends were. This made Jerick suspicious at the time, as he noticed a change in Nash’s behavior.

She appealed to authorities to ensure justice for the victims and criticized the spread of false information online, including manipulated images circulating on social media.

Janica appealed to government agencies, saying, “Gusto ko lang pong mensahe is sana mabigyan ng hustisya ‘yung mga nabiktima, lalong-lalo na sa mga namatayan. At sana po ay hindi maging hadlang ang pagiging menor de edad para makulong kasi unfair parang naman na ganun-ganun na lang.”

She also pleaded with the public to stop spreading false information and AI-manipulated images that wrongly claimed her brother was among the dead, especially content creators who were using her brother for content.

“Gusto ko rin pong ipahayag na sana po hindi sila... 'yong mga tao po sa social media, gumagawa ng mga fake news about namatay daw 'yong kapatid ko, tapos ginamitan nila ng Al 'yong picture niya kasama siya sa mga namatay, tapos pinapakalat nila, lalo na po 'yung ibang content creator ginawa nilang content 'yong ganoong bagay," she added.

Separately, some victims’ families called for stronger accountability for minors involved in serious crimes, including proposals to lower the age of criminal responsibility.

At the Senate hearing, Risa Hontiveros, who leads the committee, said the investigation is also looking into whether online groups may have influenced or “groomed” minors into committing violent acts.