SAEDNEWS: A shooting at a school in Banga town, South Cotabato, in the southern Philippines, left at least three people dead, including a 16-year-old suspected gunman, and injured several others on Friday.
According to Saednews, A disaster agency worker said that two of those killed were students, while several others were taken to a hospital for treatment.
Four of the eight injured students, aged between 14 and 17, were in critical condition, the worker said.
South Cotabato provincial governor Reynaldo Tamayo said the suspected gunman reportedly shot himself after the attack.
The town mayor later confirmed that the attacker had died, according to Reuters.
However, authorities had not yet determined how many people were involved in the shooting.
A video circulating on social media captured a teacher saying there were two shooters. A student was also heard saying that “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.”
The incident occurred weeks after nationwide shooter drills were held to strengthen school security. The drills followed two earlier school shootings in the country in recent months.
The latest incident also occurred about a month after a shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University in the southern Philippines on Aug. 18, in which two students, including the student gunman, were killed.
Authorities have not yet revealed a possible motive for the latest shooting.
