Three dead, eight hurt in Philippines school shooting
Bbc · 4 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
A shooting at Banga National High School in Banga, South Cotabato, on Friday afternoon left three people dead and eight others injured, according to local officials and media reports. Four of the injured were reported to be in critical condition, and authorities said the suspected gunman, a 16-year-old, was among the dead after apparently shooting himself.
Key Points
- Banga mayor Albert Palencia told the BBC that two of those killed were 14-year-old students, while the 16-year-old gunman was also among the dead.
- Xinhua, citing local media and officials, reported that all three people killed were minors aged between 14 and 17.
- The shooting happened on Friday afternoon at Banga National High School, with Xinhua reporting it occurred around 1 p.m. in Banga municipality, South Cotabato province.
- Eight people were injured and four were in critical condition, while an earlier Xinhua report had initially put the toll at two dead and seven injured.
- Classes were suspended at all levels across Banga, and the Department of Education said it was deeply concerned and prioritising the safety of learners, teachers and school staff.
Why It Matters
The case is still developing, with police investigating at the school site and officials urging the public not to spread unverified information while casualty details are being confirmed. For Hong Kong readers, the incident is another reminder of how quickly a school security crisis can escalate in a nearby Asian jurisdiction, disrupting classes across an entire municipality.