Philippines School Shooting: Three Killed, Six Injured At South Cotabato School
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
At least three people were killed and six others injured after a shooting at Banga National High School in Banga, South Cotabato, in the Philippines, on Friday, according to local media reports.
South Cotabato Governor Reynald Tamayo confirmed the casualties, Philstar reported.
The Philippines Red Cross (PRC) said it had mobilised teams to provide emergency assistance following the shooting.
In a statement on Facebook, the PRC said preliminary reports, which were still subject to verification, indicated that six injured people had been taken to Dantom Doctors Hospital and South Cotabato Provincial Hospital. It initially reported one fatality and said the suspected shooter, reportedly a student, was among those injured.
PRC Chairman and CEO Richard J Gordon said teams were providing immediate care to those affected.
“Our hearts go out to the school community, and our teams are on the ground ensuring that victims receive immediate care,” Gordon said.
Education Department Urges Calm
The Philippines Department of Education said it was “deeply concerned” over the reported shooting at Banga National High School and urged the public to remain calm and avoid sharing unverified information while authorities investigate.
The department said the safety of students, teachers and school personnel remained its “foremost priority”.
It said it was coordinating with the Schools Division Office, Regional Office, local authorities and law enforcement to verify the circumstances surrounding the incident and provide assistance.
The department also said it was prepared to provide psychological first aid as well as mental health and psychosocial support to those affected.
Recent School Shootings In Philippines
The latest incident comes amid other shooting incidents at educational institutions in the Philippines.
Last month, a shooting was reported at the junior high school building of Ateneo de Zamboanga University, where a student allegedly used two pistols to shoot dead a classmate, Philstar reported.
On June 22, at least three students and 20 others were injured after two students allegedly opened fire at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City.
