At least 3 dead, 6 wounded in South Cotabato school shooting

Kat Wilcox via Wikimedia Commons

Students are sent home, and South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. calls for calm following the school shooting in his province

AT A GLANCE

• A gun attack at Banga National High School in South Cotabato left five students wounded, including the alleged shooter who also shot himself.
• The local governor described the incident as an isolated case, and authorities are providing support to the affected students while urging calm in the community.
• The Department of Education expressed deep concern and is ready to offer psychological support as investigations continue into the shooting.

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Trigger warning: This article contains references to violence and weapons. 

MANILA, Philippines – At least five students, including the alleged perpetrator, were wounded and have been hospitalized after a gun attack at the Banga National High School in South Cotabato on Friday, September 18, according to Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr.

“Lima ang affected na kabataan: apat ang naging biktima at isa ‘yong suspek. Ang suspek ay nagbaril din ng kanyang sarili after niya binaril ‘yong apat,” Tamayo said in a video statement.

“Ngayon ay nando’n lahat sa ospital pero medyo delikado ang kalagayan ng iilan sa kanila,” he said.

(Five minors were affected: four victims and the suspect. The suspect also shot himself after he opened fire. Now, all of them are in the hospital, but some of them are in critical condition.)

The police investigation is still ongoing.

Tamayo said the incident was an “isolated case,” and authorities have sent the students home to “control their emotions.”

“Sa ngayon, manatili lang tayong kalmado. Alam kong mabigat ito sa munisipyo ng Banga at sa mga magulang na nandito, pero wala tayong choice kung hindi pakalmahin muna natin ang ating mga sarili,” he said. 

(For now, we must remain calm. I know this is a serious issue for the municipality of Banga and the parents here, but we have no choice but to calm ourselves for now.)

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. 

It said it is ready to provide psychological first aid and mental health and psychosocial support.

“We urge everyone to remain calm and refrain from sharing unverified information as authorities continue their investigation,” the DepEd said. 

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 the shooting incident at Ateneo de Zamboanga’s junior high school campus in Zamboanga City, including the alleged shooter himself. 

This is a developing story, and will be updated. – Rappler.com