Date: September 18, 2026
Reporter: Emilly Jordan
Three students were killed and eight others injured in a shooting at Banga National High School in South Cotabato in the southern Philippines on Friday, September 18, with the suspected gunman among those who died. Four of the injured students were reported to be in critical condition, according to local officials.
The shooting occurred at Banga National High School in Banga town, where authorities responded after reports of gunfire on the school campus. The victims were students between the ages of 14 and 17, according to Banga Mayor Albert Palencia. The suspected shooter was identified as a 16-year-old Grade 9 student who later turned the firearm on himself.
The exact circumstances surrounding the attack remain under investigation. Officials have not announced a confirmed motive, although authorities are examining information about the suspect's activities and possible warning signs before the shooting.
Mayor Palencia said the student had reportedly told friends before the attack that they should go home because he intended to carry out a plan after lunch. His friends reportedly did not take the warning seriously because they regarded him as someone who often joked. The mayor said the student subsequently opened fire on other students.
The firearm used in the shooting was reportedly owned by the suspect's father. Philippine officials have emphasized the importance of responsible firearm storage and ensuring that minors cannot gain access to guns. South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo urged gun owners to take greater precautions, saying that schools cannot rely solely on security personnel to protect thousands of students.
The incident prompted an immediate emergency response. Injured students were taken to hospitals for treatment, while authorities suspended classes throughout Banga municipality. The Philippine Department of Education said it was coordinating with school officials, local authorities and law enforcement agencies to determine what happened and provide assistance to students, teachers and affected families.
The Department of Education also said psychological first aid and mental-health and psychosocial support would be made available to people affected by the shooting. Officials urged members of the public not to circulate unverified information while the investigation continues.
The reported death toll changed during the early stages of the response as government agencies updated their information. Initial reports from disaster-response officials recorded different numbers of people killed and injured, but later statements from local authorities and the Department of Social Welfare and Development confirmed three deaths and eight injuries.
The shooting has attracted particular attention because school shootings have historically been relatively uncommon in the Philippines. Friday's attack was reported as the country's third deadly school shooting since June, according to Reuters and other news organizations.
In June, at least three students were killed and about 20 others injured when two students opened fire at a public high school in Tacloban. In August, another student in Zamboanga was killed in a shooting that was livestreamed, with the student responsible later taking his own life.
The recent incidents have prompted Philippine authorities to increase attention to school security and emergency preparedness. Nationwide school safety drills were conducted earlier in September as part of efforts to improve schools' ability to respond to active threats and other emergencies.
The latest shooting has also renewed discussion about firearm access among young people. The Philippines has relatively strict firearm regulations, including requirements involving background checks and psychological assessments, but officials acknowledge that firearms remain accessible in some circumstances. The government has continued to emphasize safe storage and preventing minors from accessing weapons.
Authorities are also examining reports about the suspect's online activities. Reuters reported that officials were investigating claims that the student had participated in an online community focused on true crime. The information remains part of the investigation and has not been established as the cause of the shooting.
For students, parents and teachers in Banga, the immediate focus has shifted to medical treatment, safety and emotional support following the attack. Classes were suspended while emergency personnel and authorities responded to the incident, and officials have continued coordinating with schools and families affected by the violence.
The Philippine authorities have yet to provide a final account of how the firearm was obtained, what motivated the attack or whether any other individuals played a role. Investigators are expected to examine the weapon, the circumstances surrounding its storage, the suspect's movements before the shooting and available information about his communications and online activity.
The South Cotabato shooting has once again placed school safety and firearm access at the centre of public discussion in the Philippines. As investigators work to establish the full circumstances, government officials are urging parents, schools and communities to remain vigilant while emphasizing that the immediate priority is caring for the injured and supporting students, families and school personnel affected by the tragedy.