A school shooting in the Philippines has left at least six students dead and 17 others injured, with four of the wounded in critical condition, officials said.
The gunman opened fire at Banga National High School in South Cotabato on Friday afternoon before taking his own life, according to local reports. All the victims were students aged between 14 and 17.
Banga mayor Albert Palencia said the suspect had been sitting beside friends before telling them to leave because he planned to carry out the attack after lunch. His friends reportedly dismissed the remark because he was known for joking.
“After lunch, he started shooting students. He hit 10 students before killing himself,” Mr Palencia told Reuters.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development confirmed the death toll and sent social workers to provide psychological support to those affected. Lessons have been suspended while police investigate at the school.
The Department of Education said it was “deeply concerned by the reported shooting incident” and was working with authorities to verify what had happened and provide support.
“Our immediate priority is the safety and well-being of our learners, teachers and school personnel,” the department said, urging the public to remain calm and avoid sharing unverified information.
Videos shared on social media appeared to show injured pupils being carried from classrooms, while other footage showed children being reunited with their families. Police images reportedly showed blood on the school floors as officers evacuated the building.
Officials have not released the identity of the shooter. An image published by local media purports to show the suspected gunman lying dead on the ground, although that claim has not been independently confirmed.
The attack is the third deadly incident at a Philippine school since June, despite school shootings previously being considered rare in the country.
Last month, a student in Zamboanga live-streamed himself shooting and killing another pupil in a classroom before taking his own life. In June, two classmates allegedly opened fire at a public high school in Tacloban, killing at least three students and injuring about 20 others.
The Philippines has relatively strict rules governing gun ownership, including background checks and psychological assessments, but illegal firearms remain in circulation.
South Cotabato governor Reynaldo Tamayo urged gun owners to ensure that weapons could not be reached by children. “We need to be responsible in storing firearms. Gun owners, in particular, must make sure that minors do not have access to them,” he said.
“We cannot expect a handful of security personnel to monitor thousands of students. We need to work together because otherwise this will be very difficult for us to address.”
