One student critical in ICU after Banga National High School shooting - GMA Network

One of the students injured during a shooting incident at Banga National High School in Banga, South Cotabato on Friday is in critical condition at an intensive care unit at a hospital, a municipal official said Saturday.

"May nai-refer tayo sa Cotabato Regional and Medical Center sa Cotabato City kasi kritikal 'yon. Nasa ICU ngayon for further observation sa status ng isang pasyente," Banga Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head Joseph Franco said in an interview on Dobol B TV.

(We referred one [injured] to the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center in Cotabato City because the student is in critical condition. The patient is now in the ICU for further observation.)

Meanwhile, three others were discharged from the hospital while three others were referred to private hospitals, he said.

"As of this time, ang mga victims natin ng pamamaril kahapon, may tatlo na tayong discharged. Nakalabas na kagabi as of 7:15. Naihatid na natin sa kani-kanilang mga bahay," Franco said.

(As of this time, of the victims of the shooting yesterday, three were already discharged. They were discharged [from the hospital] as of 7:15 p.m. They were already brought to their respective homes.)

"Then 'yung tatlo, nai-refer din from South Cotabato Provincial Hospital, nai-refer sa dalawang private hospital dito po sa Koronadal City," he added.

(Then three others who were referred from South Cotabato Provincial Hospital have been referred to two private hospitals in Koronadal City.)

Seven students were injured while three others were dead including the shooter in the Friday shooting incident, Franco said.

"Ang injured po is pito then 'yung dead natin, tatlo kasama ang shooter. Lahat po ito ay mga estudyante at saka Grade 9 students po," he said.

(Those injured were seven then there were three dead including the shooter. All of them are Grade 9 students.)

BABALA: SENSITIBONG VIDEO AT BALITALIVE sa DZBB: Joseph Franco, head, Banga-MDRRMO📻: 594 kHz AM band📡: https://t.co/JQBiiAGYjG💻: https://t.co/qJBm2PDx29📺: @gtvphilippines▶️: https://t.co/Cl273HR6hS pic.twitter.com/VGZ9ASJhMe

The shooting incident occurred Friday after lunch time.

The school has a population of more than 3,000 students, but it has only one security guard who was assigned to the main gate, Franco said.

"'Yung Banga National High School, may population na more than 3,000 students. Isang guwardiya lang ang nagme-maintain. Du'n lang siya na-assign sa main gate ng school. Sa dami ng estudyante, hindi niya siguro lahat mai-inspect sa gate kaya nakapasok ang ilang gamit na hindi namalayan ng guwardiya ng school," he said.

(Banga National High School has a population of more than 3,000 students. It maintains only one security guard. He was assigned to the main gate of the school. Because there were many students, maybe he could not inspect all bags at the gate so some items were brought in without the guard's knowledge.)

Police are still verifying if the shooter is a member of a true crimes community, Franco said.

He added that the mental health status of the shooter is still for verification.

Franco said the government will provide assistance to the families of the three fatalities as well as the seven others who were injured.

Meanwhile, classes in public schools in the municipality of Banga on Monday, September 21, have been suspended, he said.

This would allow school officials, the Philippine National Police, and other stakeholders to hold a conference to discuss what happened and come up with measures to prevent a repeat of the incident, Franco said.

The MDRRMO official also said the Banga National High School was the pilot venue for the active shooter drill recently conducted by the municipality in accordance with guidelines from the Department of Education.

Franco said although the drill was done well before the incident, the turn of events on Friday caused teachers and students to be rattled.

"Naisagawa natin nang maayos... Doon sa actual, dahil sa nangyayari, parang nara-rattle 'yung mga teacher at estudyante," he said.

(We conducted the drill well... During the actual event, because of what happened, teachers and students were rattled.)

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has ordered concerned government agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into the school shooting.

In a statement, Marcos expressed his condolences and assured the injured students of government assistance. —KG, GMA News