Three Students Dead in School Shooting in Southern Philippines
A school shooting in Banga, South Cotabato, killed three students and injured eight others. The suspect, a 16-year-old student, used his father's pistol before taking his own life. Officials are urging stricter firearm storage following this and two other recent incidents.
A violent incident at a school in Banga, South Cotabato, Philippines, has resulted in the deaths of three students and left eight others injured. Among the deceased was a 16-year-old suspected gunman who turned the weapon on himself after opening fire.
The attack occurred on a Friday when the suspect retrieved a 9-mm pistol belonging to his father, an employee of the Department of Education, from a vault. According to reports, the teenager had told friends he would execute a plan after lunch. He then entered a neighboring Grade 9 classroom and opened fire indiscriminately on students.
All victims involved in the shooting were students between the ages of 14 and 17. Of the eight injured students, four have been reported to be in critical condition.
South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo responded to the tragedy by urging parents and gun owners to ensure that firearms are kept out of reach of minors. This call for responsible storage comes as the region faces a cluster of rare school shootings. Since June, there have been two other fatal incidents in the Philippines: one in Tacloban in June, which killed at least three people and injured about 20, and another in Zamboanga last month.