Tacloban school shooting survivor needs help for another surgery

CRIME SCENE Investigators and school personnel regulate the entry to San Jose National High School in Tacloban City as they secure the scene of the shooting that killed three students on June 22. —Joey A. Gabieta TACLOBAN CITY, LEYTE, Philippines — Nearly three months after surviving the June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School (SJNHS) here, 17-year-old Joan Viñas continues to battle the physical and emotional wounds left by the tragedy as she prepares for another surgery this week. Joan is scheduled to undergo a cranioplasty at the Eastern Visayas Medical Center (EVMC) in this city, and her family needs at least P40,000 to cover the procedure’s cost. Her mother, Rowena, is appealing for financial assistance, saying the family has already received government and other aid but still lacks money to cover Joan’s continuing medical needs. Article continues after this advertisement READ: DILG gives Youth Heroism Award to Tacloban shooting victim Chris Fabian “We are appealing for financial assistance as Joan will undergo another surgery,” Rowena told the Inquirer on Monday. Joan, a Grade 10 student, was among the three students seriously injured when a 14-year-old student, identified as “Nash,” went on a shooting rampage inside the school on June 22. Three students were killed in the attack while 20 others were either wounded or injured. Joan had a bullet wound in the head. The bullet struck her head and exited through her right eye, leaving her with a serious eye injury and the need for continuing medical treatment. She was confined at EVMC for 12 days following the shooting. Article continues after this advertisement Eye injury Joan is scheduled to undergo another surgery in November to address the injury to her right eye and hopefully restore her eyesight. The timing of the second surgery is particularly significant for Joan, as it is scheduled around her 18th birthday. Article continues after this advertisement Rowena said the family had received assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through Tingog party list and from several individuals and groups who helped Joan during her hospitalization. However, the assistance received so far has not been enough to meet the expenses for her succeeding surgeries. Rowena has no regular employment, while her husband, Joseph, works as a job order employee of the Tacloban City government. Joan is the youngest of their eight children. Despite surviving the shooting, Joan said the incident continues to haunt her. She recalled that she was inside her classroom when the shooting began. She ran to another classroom to check on her cousin, Yuriza Ay-ay, also in Grade 10, when she was struck by the bullet. While Joan is grateful to have survived, she said she is still struggling to come to terms with what happened. When asked about reports that Nash has not been charged in connection with the shooting, Joan became emotional. “I want him also to be charged. I want him to suffer for what he did to us,” she said. Nash’s companion, “Rod,” 15, was charged with murder. Both are now under the custody of the DSWD rehabilitation center in Tanauan, Leyte. The June 22 shooting prompted renewed concerns over security and safety in schools in Eastern Visayas. The two other students who were seriously injured have since returned to school, Joan has yet to attend her classes at SJNHS as she continues her recovery. Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful. Joan, however, remains hopeful that she will return to school and pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. /cb