MANILA: At least one person was killed and four others were injured in a shooting at Banga National High School in the South Cotabato province of the Philippines on Friday afternoon. Governor Reynaldo Tamayo confirmed that one person died in the incident and four injured individuals were transported to a hospital for medical treatment.
Emergency responders and the Philippine Red Cross arrived at the school premises following the incident. Police have launched an investigation into the shooting, although authorities have not yet released the identity of the shooter or the motive behind the attack. While some local media outlets have reported varying figures regarding casualties, these details remain unverified by official sources.
Local disaster management authorities have suspended classes at all schools within the Banga municipality. The Philippine Department of Education expressed serious concern regarding the incident, stating that the safety of students, teachers, and school staff remains their immediate priority. The department is coordinating with security agencies to verify the facts and has urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified information.
Gun violence is not uncommon in the Philippines, but incidents of school shootings are relatively rare. A similar event occurred in June, when a student opened fire at a high school in central Philippines, resulting in the deaths of three students. Police investigations into the shooting at Banga National High School are ongoing, and further details regarding the cause and the identity of the shooter are expected to emerge as the probe continues.
