Three students killed, eight wounded in Philippines school shooting
Three students were killed and eight others wounded in a shooting at a high school in the southern Philippines on Friday, with the gunman among the dead, authorities said.
The shooting took place at Banga National High School in Banga town, South Cotabato province.
Four of the eight wounded students were in critical condition, while all the victims were aged between 14 and 17, Banga Mayor Albert Palencia said.
The gunman, a 16-year-old Grade 9 student at the school, turned the gun on himself after opening fire on students, bringing the death toll to three, according to Palencia.
The teenager used a 9-mm pistol belonging to his father, a Department of Education employee, the mayor said. He accessed the weapon from his father's safe at home before carrying out the shooting.
Palencia said the student had warned friends before the shooting that he planned to carry out an attack after lunch, but they dismissed the remark as a joke because he was known for joking with them.
After leaving his classroom, the student entered a neighboring classroom and opened fire on students, Palencia said.
Authorities are investigating the motive for the shooting, including the teenager’s online activity.
Palencia, citing a police report, said investigators had found links between the student and an online “true crime” community and were examining his activity there.
The Department of Education said it was coordinating with school officials, local authorities and law enforcement agencies to establish the circumstances of the shooting and provide support to those affected.
“Our immediate priority is the safety and well-being of our learners, teachers, and school personnel,” the department said, while urging the public not to circulate unverified information.
South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo urged gun owners to ensure firearms are securely stored and kept out of the reach of minors.
The shooting is the third deadly incident at a Philippine school since June, following attacks in Tacloban and Zamboanga City.
School shootings have historically been rare in the country, which has relatively strict gun ownership rules, including background checks and psychological evaluations.
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