At least six people have been killed and several others injured in a shooting at a school in the Philippines.
Local reports said a gunman opened fire at Banga National High School in South Cotabato on Friday afternoon before taking his own life.
The attack comes after two other deadly gun-related incidents at Philippine schools since June, an alarming development in a country where school shootings have historically been uncommon.
Banga mayor Albert Palencia said at least 17 people were wounded, including four in critical condition. All of the victims were students between the ages of 14 and 17, he said.
“The suspect supposedly sat beside his friends and told them to go home ‘because after lunch, I will be executing my plan,’” Palencia told Reuters. “His friends laughed because the shooter was a known joker.”
“After lunch, he started shooting students. He hit 10 students before killing himself,” Palencia added.
While local media initially reported conflicting figures, the Department of Social Welfare and Development confirmed the death toll. The agency said it had sent social workers to assist victims and provide psychological support.
In a statement, the Department of Education said it was “deeply concerned by the reported shooting incident.”
An image is said to show the suspected gunman lying dead on the ground.
Emergency workers are seen at the scene of the deadly shooting at a school in Banga, South Cotabato, Philippines, on September 18, 2026.
Pictured: Terrified children cry as they are reunited with their families following a shooting in the Philippines
‘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.
Footage on social media showed injured students being carried out of classrooms, while police footage showed the school’s floors covered in blood as officers evacuated the building.
A separate video showed terrified children reuniting with their families.
Officials have not given details on the identity of the shooter, but one image published by local media purports to show the gunman lying dead on the ground.
Lessons have been suspended while police remain at the scene as they investigate the shooting.
It is the country’s third deadly school incident since June.
Philippines has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the region.
The gunman opened fire on the Banga National High School (pictured) in South Cotabato on Friday afternoon
Last month, a student live-streamed himself shooting and killing another student in 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 opened fire on campus.
The Philippines has relatively strict gun ownership regulations, including background checks and psychological evaluation requirements, although illegal firearms remain in circulation.
The Friday shooting also follows a high-profile incident in Thailand in August, where a student went on a shooting rampage at a school on the outskirts of the capital Bangkok.
South Cotabato governor Reynaldo Tamayo urged parents to ensure guns were kept out of reach of minors.
‘We need to be responsible in storing firearms. Gun owners, in particular, must make sure that minors do not have access to them,’ Tamayo told Reuters by phone.
‘We cannot expect a handful of security personnel to monitor thousands of students. We need to work together because otherwise this will be very difficult for us to address.’
This is a breaking news story, more to follow.