Three students were killed, including a 16-year-old suspected gunman, while eight others were injured in a shooting at Banga National High School in South Cotabato, southern Philippines, on Friday.
The suspected gunman died after turning the firearm on himself following the attack, according to South Cotabato officials. Four of the eight injured students were reported to be in critical condition.
The shooting occurred at Banga National High School in Banga town, with authorities responding to reports of gunfire on the campus. The injured students, aged between 14 and 17, were taken to hospitals for treatment.
Banga Mayor Albert Palencia said the suspected gunman had reportedly warned some friends about his plan before the shooting, but they dismissed the warning as a joke.
South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo said the incident was under investigation and urged gun owners to ensure firearms are properly stored and kept away from minors.
The Department of Education said it was coordinating with its Schools Division and Regional offices, local authorities and law enforcement agencies to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting and provide assistance to those affected.
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👉 JOIN WHATSAPP CHANNEL“Our immediate priority is the safety and well-being of our learners, teachers, and school personnel,” the department said.
The Department of Education also said it was prepared to provide psychological first aid and mental health and psychosocial support to affected students and school personnel. It urged the public to remain calm and avoid circulating unverified information.
Classes at all levels in Banga municipality were suspended following the incident, while emergency and medical teams were deployed to assist victims.
The shooting is the third deadly school shooting reported in the Philippines since June. In June, three students were killed and about 20 others injured in a shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City.
In August, a student at Ateneo de Zamboanga University was killed in a shooting that was livestreamed, with the student shooter later taking his own life.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Banga shooting, including the motive and how the teenage suspect obtained the firearm.
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