Authorities cordon off the scene of the crime at a high school in Banga town, South Cotabato following the shooting which left six dead and scores injured. The shooter – who was later identified as a student in the school – also died after shooting himself.
Photograph courtesy of STR /AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
WORKERS from the Department of Social Welfare and Development tend to the students who were injured during the school shooting incident.
Photograph courtesy of FMR Davao
A gunman opened fire at a high school in South Cotabato on Friday afternoon, killing multiple students before turning the gun on himself, local authorities and welfare officials said.
The shooting occurred around 1 p.m. at Banga National High School in Barangay Benitez, marking a rare and violent incident on school grounds in the province.
Conflicting casualty counts emerged in the immediate aftermath as law enforcement and welfare agencies responded to the scene.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported on social media that six students were killed and 17 others were seriously injured in the attack.
The agency added that its social workers were deployed to the area to deliver psychological first aid and psychosocial support to surviving students and victims’ families.
Police authorities presented a different preliminary tally. A statement from the Philippine National Police confirmed at least three deaths and several injured, noting that the situation remains under active investigation.
Brig. Gen. Alan Manibog, director of Police Regional Office 12, told reporters in a message that the suspect used a .45-caliber pistol in the attack, which occurred around 1:30 p.m. Manibog stated that four victims were shot before the gunman took his own life.
According to Manibog, emergency personnel immediately transported the wounded victims to Surallah Hospital and the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital, where they were alive upon arrival.
Police officers secured the school premises, coordinated with academic administrators and medical responders, and launched an investigation to establish the motives and circumstances surrounding the attack.
Officials urged the public to await verified updates as law enforcement works to confirm the identities and conditions of all individuals involved.
Meantime, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Friday said it was coordinating with local authorities and law enforcement after the shooting.
DepEd said it was “deeply concerned” over the reported shooting and was working with its Schools Division Office, Regional Office, local authorities and law enforcement to verify the circumstances and provide assistance.
“Our immediate priority is the safety and well-being of our learners, teachers and school personnel,” the agency said, adding that it is also ready to provide psychological first aid and mental health and psychosocial support to those affected.
The department urged the public to remain calm and refrain from circulating unverified information while authorities investigate the incident.
