School shooting in the Philippines: Three people dead
Three people, including students and the attacker, were killed and eight others were wounded in a high school shooting in the southern Philippines.
A shooting at a high school in the Mindanao region of the southern Philippines left three people dead, including two students and the attacker, and eight others wounded. Following the incident, classes at all levels were suspended across the municipality.
Attack at the School
The shooting took place on Friday afternoon at the Banga National High School in the town of Banga, in the Mindanao province of the southern Philippines. Authorities stated that two of the deceased were 14-year-old students, and the 16-year-old attacker was also among the dead.
Statements from Authorities
Banga Mayor Albert Palencia stated that the attacker had asked his friends to go home during lunchtime, but his friends laughed, thinking it was a joke. Palencia reported that the attacker started shooting in the afternoon and then committed suicide.
The Department of Education expressed deep concern over the reported shooting incident in a statement it released.
Suspension of Education and Relief Efforts
Banga disaster management officials announced that classes at all educational levels across the municipality had been suspended due to the attack. The Philippine Red Cross stated that they were notified at 2:00 PM local time and dispatched ambulances to provide emergency life support to the area.
Gun Safety Warning
Following the tragic incident, South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo called on adult gun owners to safely store firearms and prevent minors from accessing them.