2 killed, 8 wounded in shooting at Philippines school, gunman kills himself

Three people were killed in a school shooting in the southern Philippines on Friday, including the 16-year-old suspected gunman, while eight others were injured, the town’s mayor said.

Four of the eight injured were in critical condition, while all the victims were students aged between 14 and 17, Banga town Mayor Albert Palencia told Reuters.

The shooting took place in Banga town in South Cotabato province. The Department of Education said it was deeply concerned over the incident, as authorities grapple with a series of violent episodes at schools in the southern Philippines.

The latest incident follows two other school shootings since June, a worrying development in a country where such attacks were previously rare.

Last month, a student in Zamboanga live-streamed himself shooting and killing another student inside a classroom before taking his own life.

In June, two classmates opened fire at a public high school in Tacloban, killing at least three students and injuring around 20 others.

The Philippines has relatively strict gun ownership regulations, including background checks and psychological evaluation requirements. However, illegal firearms remain in circulation.

Friday’s shooting also comes weeks after a high-profile school shooting in neighbouring Thailand. In August, a student went on a shooting rampage at a school on the outskirts of the capital Bangkok.- EndsPublished By: Devika BhattacharyaPublished On: Sep 18, 2026 13:21 IST