At least 3 dead, 6 wounded in South Cotabato school shooting - Rappler
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SCHOOL SHOOTING. Philippine Red Cross personnel arrive at Banga National High School in Banga, South Cotabato, after a school shooting occurred on campus on September 18, 2026.
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Trigger warning: This article contains references to violence, suicide, and weapons.
MANILA, Philippines – At least three children were killed, and six others were wounded, after a minor opened fire at Banga National High School in Banga town, South Cotabato, on Friday, September 18, Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. said.
Tamayo, quoting the provincial disaster risk reduction and management council, said the dead included two girls and the alleged shooter as of 4:10 pm. He said in an earlier video statement that some of the victims were in critical condition in the hospital.
In an interview with radio DZBB, Banga Mayor Albert Palencia said the two girls were aged 14, while the alleged perpetrator was a 16-year-old Grade 9 student.
Palencia said the incident happened past 1 pm. The minor tagged in the shooting allegedly warned his classmates that “he will be doing something” after their lunch break.
The student fired randomly outside his classroom before shooting himself, according to Palencia.
Students were sent home after the gun attack. Police investigation is still ongoing.
The town mayor said the gun used by the student was supposedly owned by his father, who was reportedly a government employee.
Palencia said the minor allegedly destroyed the vault where the firearm was stored.
“Ako’y nananawagan sa mga magulang: Sana ‘wag ‘nyong hayaan na open sa mata at access ng bata ‘yong mga baril na meron kayo. Dapat maging responsable kayo dahil may mga pananagutan ang mga magulang dito,” Tamayo said.
(I’m appealing to the parents: Don’t let your guns be visible to and be openly accessed by children. Be responsible because parents have liabilities in these incidents.)
Following the tragedy, lawmakers from the Akbayan party-list group urged their colleagues to pass the child safety against gun violence bill to strengthen school safety, regulate firearm access and use, and establish liability mechanisms for gun owners.
Meanwhile, Tamayo said they learned from the minor’s friend that he was supposedly a member of an online “true crime” community. The governor said this was among the angles the police are checking.
Authorities previously said the “True Crime Community” is where violent content is shared and discussed online.
It was among the interconnected online subcultures linked to nihilistic violent extremism, which glorifies violence without a coherent ideological framework.
In a statement, the Department of Education (DepEd) said it was deeply concerned by the reported shooting incident, adding that its immediate priority was the safety and well-being of students, teachers, and school personnel.
The DepEd said it was closely coordinating with local school officials, local authorities, and law enforcement to verify the circumstances of the incident.
Both the DepEd and the Department of Social Welfare and Development said they will provide psychological first aid and mental health and psychosocial support to the victims and their families.
In June, three students were killed after their two schoolmates opened fire at the San Jose National High School in Tacloban City.
In August, two students died in a shooting incident at Ateneo de Zamboanga’s junior high school campus in Zamboanga City, including the alleged shooter himself.
Two weeks ago, the DepEd rolled out its “trauma-informed” school safety drills to prepare students against threats on campuses. – Rappler.com
The Department of Health has national crisis hotlines to assist people with mental health concerns: 1553 or 0919-057-1553. You can also access free online psychosocial support via www.ncmhusaptayo.com.
