Family of 15-year-old student hailed as hero in Tacloban school shooting continues to seek justice

TACLOBAN — Four months after the deadly shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, the family of Christ Lorenz Fabian continues to demand justice for the Grade 10 student and boy scout who many hailed as a young hero after saving his classmates’ lives.

In the middle of the tragic June 22 shooting incident that shocked the country, Chris Lorenz reportedly acted quickly when one of the armed students attempted to enter their classroom. 

He shut the door and held it firmly so the assailant could not get inside.

Despite the gunman’s attempts to force the door open, Chris refused to let go.

Chris was eventually hit after the door was riddled with bullets.

He however still managed to urge his classmates to escape, save themselves and just leave him behind.

His courageous act helped save the lives of his classmates who were inside the classroom.

The pain of losing Chris remains deeply felt by the Fabian family.

Their once-happy home in San Jose, Tacloban City, is now filled with memories of the son they can no longer bring back.

“Kung alin pa yung mabait, siya pa yung nawala. Lahat kami, pati mga ano, hindi pa namin matanggap na wala na siya sa amin,” said Chris’s grandfather, Rodrigo Fabian.

While the family is grateful that Chris has been recognized as a young hero, they mourn the fact that he never knew the recognition.

The family used to spend time together visiting parks and eating out. Today, the cemetery has become their frequent destination. They bring food and share meals beside Chris’s grave.

They visit him three times a week.

“Eh sila may chance pa silang pakainin yung mga anak nila, bihisan, mapuntahan, lalo na ngayong magpa-pasko, eh kami saan kami magpa-pasko, dito sa sementeryo,” said Chris’s mother, Erbea Fabian.

According to Erbea, their family originally came from Pampanga and moved to Tacloban because of work. They have no other relatives in the city.

Despite the tragedy, however, she said they have never regretted settling in Tacloban.

Adding to the family’s grief, Chris’s beloved pets have also begun to pass away.

On November 1, one of his pet dogs was run over by a vehicle and was reportedly in critical condition.

Earlier, another dog, which was particularly close to Chris, died just three days after he was buried.

“Since nawala po siya, yung aso, hindi na po kumain, ni tubig, ayaw niya… Nilibing po namin siya nung June 30, mga July 3 po, nawala po yung pet niya,”  Erbea recalled.

Despite their grief, the family’s foremost demand remains justice.

They believe that placing the minors involved in the shooting under rehabilitation alone would not be enough.

Erbea stressed that the minors should not simply be regarded as victims, arguing that the shooting had been planned rather than carried out accidentally.

“Sila nabubuhay nang masarap, samantala yung mga anak po namin, inuuod na. Kaya wag po nilang sasabihing biktima sila. Hindi sila biktima, sila ang namiktima. Hindi po namin ano, pa’no ba nila pinalaki, bakit hindi po nila binantayan yung anak nila,” Erbea said.

The family is also appealing to lawmakers to amend the law and lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 12.

“Mga twelve year old ganyan kasi po may mga isip na po. Yung mga ano nga po Ma’am, mga grade level nga po dyan, mga 10 years old, pinantatakot na po talaga yung baril eh, na para sa kanila, laro na lang, uuwi ako, kukuha akong baril,” she said.

Erbea is also calling for a nationwide ban on online games, which she believes have a negative influence on children.

“Hangga’t hindi po naba-ban ang mga games na yan wala pong mangyayari. Yung kaligtasan po ng kabataan at saka yung kaisipan po nila maprotektahan po. Dahil kasi sa games na ‘yan, kaya ganyan ang nangyayari,” she said.

Meanwhile, the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) has dismissed from the police service the aunt of the 14-year-old student who used her service firearm in the shooting.

NAPOLCOM found the policewoman negligent in securing her firearm, which was used in the attack. 

The Fabian family, although acknowledged that the policewoman did not want the tragedy to happen, believes that her dismissal from the service is not enough.

They want everyone responsible for Chris’s death to be held accountable.

For the Fabian family, no amount of punishment can bring their son back. But until justice is served, the pain of losing a young boy who risked his life to save his classmates will remain.