Three dead and eight injured in school shooting in the Philippines

A 16-year-old gunman shot two students dead and injured eight others at Banga National High School in the southern province of Mindanao, Philippines, before reportedly taking his own life. The deceased victims were identified as 14-year-old pupils, according to local mayor Albert Palencia. Four of the injured are in critical condition. The Philippine education department expressed deep concern regarding the incident, which occurred on Friday afternoon. They stated that their immediate priority is the safety and well-being of learners, teachers, and school personnel, and they are coordinating with authorities to verify the incident and provide necessary support. Palencia reported that the gunman had warned friends during a lunchtime conversation that he would be executing a plan after lunch, which they dismissed as a joke. After lunch, he began shooting, hitting ten students before taking his own life. Classes have been suspended in all levels throughout the municipality of Banga. The Philippine Red Cross was alerted to the incident at 14:00 local time and dispatched an ambulance with four paramedics for assistance. Police are currently investigating the shooting. Gun crime is prevalent in the Philippines, which has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the region. While school shootings are rare, this incident marks the third deadly school shooting in the Philippines since June. Previous incidents included a shooting in June that resulted in three student deaths and another in August where a student shot a fellow student and then himself. Following the latest shooting, South Cotabato governor Reynaldo Tamayo urged adult gun owners to be responsible in storing firearms and preventing minors from accessing them, emphasizing the need for collective efforts to address the issue.