John H Pope, a Canadian national and retired journalist living in the Philippines, opened fire in a Manila courtroom in Central Cebu City on Tuesday, killing two men and wounding another before being fatally shot by responding police officers.
The incident occurred during a courtroom hearing in which Mr Pope was facing down charges of illegal firearms possession. In the midst of the hearing he pulled out a firearm and fatally shot both a lawyer and the physician who initially filed the charges against him. Fleeing the scene, he shot and injured a prosecutor in the hallway.
According to reporting from the National, Mr Pope was also held by police in 2011 on charges of illegal firearm possession.
The shooting comes amidst a recent wave of gun-related violence. There is a robust and ongoing debate within Filipino society as to whether the country should enact stricter laws on the possession and use of firearms.
