At least two students were killed and eight others injured after gunfire was reported at Banga National High School in South Cotabato province on Friday afternoon, authorities said. Several students were taken to hospital, and four of those injured were in critical condition, according to Banga mayor Albert Palencia, as quoted by Reuters.
Emergency services were called to the school in Banga town at about 1:30 p.m. local time, or 0530 GMT. The victims were reported to be between 14 and 17 years old.
Palencia said a third person, believed to be a 16-year-old suspected gunman, was also killed. Officials did not immediately establish how many people were involved in the shooting, and the account of the suspected attacker could not be independently expanded from the supplied reports.
Videos shared on Facebook and verified by AFP showed a man carrying what appeared to be a wounded child from the school. Another video included a teacher speaking in a local dialect who said there were two shooters, while a student said the attackers were outsiders.
The reports did not provide further information on the circumstances of the shooting, the identities of those killed or injured, or any arrests. Authorities’ account of the incident remained focused on the casualties and the emergency response as officials worked to clarify what happened.