MANILA, 18 Sept. - (ANA) - A horror shooting at a school in the Philippines has left at least six young people dead, including the 16-year-old suspected gunman, with multiple others injured.

 

Footage on social media from the scene in Banga, South Cotaboto, shows injured students being carried out of classrooms, while police footage showed the school's floors covered in blood as officers evacuated the building.

 

The suspected gunman, who was 16, shot himself following the attack, South Cotabo provincial governor Reynaldo Tamoyo said. The town mayor later reported that the attacker had died.

 

A disaster agency worker has said people killed include students, adding that several others were being treated in hospital. Four of eight ⁠injured were in ⁠critical condition and all the victims were ⁠students aged ⁠14 to ⁠17, they said.

 

A teacher was heard in a video circulating across social media that there were two shooters. A student could be heard saying "they" were outsiders to the school.

 

"For now, we are trying to let our fellow citizens know that the situation is stable and the case is contained," Tamayo said. "We never thought this would happen."

 

In a later update he told reporters: "We need to ensure that firearms and secured and not accessible to children everyone is responsible. Parents are accountable because easy access to guns for youths creates a dangerous situation for the community."

 

It is the country’s third deadly school shooting incident since June and comes weeks after nationwide shooter drills were conducted to strengthen school security.

 

The Department of Education said in a statement 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 statement said, adding it was coordinating with authorities to verify the incident and provide necessary support.

 

"We urge everyone to remain calm and refrain from sharing unverified information as authorities continue their investigation," the Department added.  - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/18 September 2026 - -