At least one dead and multiple injured in Philippines school shooting

A shooting at Banga National High School in South Cotabato, Mindanao province, southern Philippines, resulted in at least one death and several injuries on Friday afternoon. The incident has led to conflicting casualty reports from different sources. The Department of Education expressed deep concern over the "reported shooting incident" and emphasized its priority to protect the safety and well-being of learners, teachers, and school personnel. They are working closely with authorities to verify the situation and provide necessary support.

South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo stated that one person had died and four others had been hospitalized, but did not disclose the identity of the shooter or confirm if they were among the injured. Gun crime is prevalent in the Philippines, despite school shootings being rare. In a similar incident six months ago, three students were killed and more injured after a shooting at a high school in central Philippines, which was reportedly motivated by a grudge over bullying.

The Philippine Red Cross has deployed medical teams to assist in the aftermath of the current shooting, and police are investigating the crime scene.