Shooting at Banga National High School in South Cotabato: one dead, several injured

A shooting at Banga National High School in South Cotabato, on the southern island of Mindanao, left at least one person dead and several others wounded on Thursday afternoon local time, authorities and relief groups said.

Authorities respond; schools in Banga suspended

The Department of Education expressed deep concern and said it was coordinating with local authorities to determine the facts and to provide support for victims’ families and the injured. "Our immediate priority is the safety and welfare of students, teachers and school personnel," the statement said.

Governor Reinaldo Tamayo told journalists earlier that one person had been killed and four people were hospitalized; he did not give the identity of a suspected attacker nor say whether the shooter was among the dead or wounded. Local media, citing other Philippine agencies, reported a higher number of casualties, but officials have not confirmed those figures.

The municipal disaster management office ordered a suspension of classes at all levels across the town of Banga following the incident. The Philippine Red Cross said it had dispatched medical teams to the scene, and police units were conducting an on-site investigation.

Gun-related crimes are not uncommon in the Philippines, a country with relatively high rates of firearm ownership in the region, although shootings at schools remain rare. In June, three students were killed and several more hurt in a separate school shooting in the central Philippines; investigators said that episode appeared to be motivated by retaliation linked to peer violence.

Officials urged the public to avoid spreading unverified reports while the investigation is underway. "We urge everyone to remain calm and refrain from sharing unverified information while the authorities' investigation continues," the Department of Education added.

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