A school shooting in the Philippines has left three people dead and several others injured after a 16-year-old student allegedly went on a shooting spree, sending pupils and staff fleeing in panic.
The 16-year-old suspect allegedly opened fire at Banga National High School in South Cotabato on Friday afternoon before turning the gun on himself, according to local reports.
At least 17 other people were injured, four of whom are reportedly in critical condition, Banga town mayor Albert Palencia said. He added that all the victims were students aged between 14 and 17.
“The suspect supposedly sat beside his friends and told them to go home because, after lunch, I will be executing my plan. His friends laughed because the shooter was a known joker,” Palencia told Reuters.
“After lunch, he started shooting students. He hit 10 students before killing himself,” Palencia added.
Local media initially reported conflicting casualty figures, but the death toll was later confirmed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, which has deployed social workers to provide psychological support to victims and their families.
The Department of Education said in a statement that it was “deeply concerned by the reported shooting incident.”
“Our immediate priority is the safety and well-being of our learners, teachers and school personnel,” the department said, adding that it was coordinating with authorities to verify details of the incident and provide the necessary support.
“We urge everyone to remain calm and refrain from sharing unverified information as authorities continue their investigation,” the department added.
Officials have not released details about the identity of the shooter. Local media also published an image purporting to show the suspect lying dead on the ground, although the image and circumstances surrounding it have not been independently verified.
Lessons have been suspended while police remain at the scene and continue their investigation.
The incident comes amid reports of other deadly school attacks in the Philippines in recent months.
Last month, a student reportedly livestreamed himself shooting and killing another student inside a classroom in Zamboanga in the country’s south before taking his own life.
In June, at least three students were killed and about 20 others injured in an attack at a public high school in Tacloban, where two classmates allegedly opened fire on campus.
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