A deadly shooting at a high school in the southern Philippines has left two young students dead and eight others wounded, bringing renewed grief and concern to Filipino families after the country’s third fatal school shooting in just four months.
According to the BBC, a 16-year-old student opened fire Friday afternoon at Banga National High School in Banga, South Cotabato, before taking his own life.
Banga Mayor Albert Palencia told the BBC that the two students who died were both 14 years old. Eight other students were injured, four of whom were reported to be in critical condition.
The Philippine Department of Education said it was “deeply concerned” by reports of the attack and emphasized that protecting students and school personnel remained its immediate concern.
“Our immediate priority is the safety and well-being of our learners, teachers and school personnel,” the department said, according to the BBC.
The department said it was coordinating with authorities to verify details surrounding the shooting and provide necessary assistance. Officials also appealed for restraint as information about the tragedy continued to emerge.
“We urge everyone to remain calm and refrain from sharing unverified information as authorities continue their investigation,” the department said.
Palencia told Reuters that the teenage gunman had spoken with friends during lunchtime before the attack and told them to go home “because after lunch, [he would] be executing [his] plan.”
“His friends laughed because the shooter was a known joker,” Palencia told Reuters. “After lunch, he started shooting students. He hit 10 students before killing himself.”
Authorities suspended classes at all levels throughout the municipality of Banga following the shooting, according to disaster management officials cited by the BBC.
The Philippines Red Cross said it received an alert about the incident at approximately 2 p.m. local time and dispatched an ambulance and four paramedics to provide emergency assistance. Police were also investigating at the school.
The tragedy comes amid growing concern following two other deadly shootings on Philippine school campuses this year.
According to the BBC, three students were killed in June when students opened fire at a high school in the central Philippines. Investigators believed that attack was motivated by a “grudge” connected to bullying.
Another tragedy occurred in August at a Catholic junior high school in the southern Philippines. According to the BBC, a student fired at a teacher but missed before entering another classroom and shooting a fellow student, who later died. The shooter subsequently took his own life.
While school shootings remain rare in the Philippines, Friday’s attack means the country has now experienced three deadly campus shootings since June.
Following the latest tragedy, South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo appealed directly to adults who possess firearms, urging them to “be responsible in storing firearms” and to prevent minors from gaining access to them.
“We cannot expect a handful of security personnel to monitor thousands of students,” Tamayo told Reuters. “We need to work together because otherwise this will be very difficult for us to address.”
For Catholics across the Philippines and around the world, the deaths represent more than another troubling statistic. They are the loss of young human lives, each possessing an inherent dignity that the Church teaches must be respected and protected.
As investigators work to determine the circumstances surrounding the attack, Catholic communities can unite in prayer for the two students who were killed, for the recovery of those who were wounded, and for the families, classmates, teachers and community members confronting the aftermath of violence.
The tragedy also offers a painful reminder of the responsibility adults and communities share in safeguarding children and creating schools where young people can learn without fear.
Your support brings the truth to the world.
Catholic Online News exists because of donors like you. We are 100% funded by people who believe the world deserves real, uncensored news rooted in faith and truth — not corporate agendas. Your gift ensures millions can continue to access the news they can trust — stories that defend life, faith, family, and freedom.
When truth is silenced, your support speaks louder.
