At least one dead in Philippines high school shooting

A shooting broke out on Friday afternoon at Banga National High School in South Cotabato province on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. Local media and officials have given conflicting casualty figures, and the identities of both the shooter and the victims have not yet been confirmed.

South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo told reporters that one person had died and four others were hospitalised. He gave no details about the shooter's identity and did not say whether the shooter was among those killed or injured. Local media, citing other Philippine authorities, have reported significantly higher casualty numbers.

The Philippine Department of Education said in a statement that it was "deeply concerned" by the reported incident, adding that its immediate priority was the safety of learners, teachers and school personnel. The department said it was coordinating with authorities to verify what happened and provide support, and urged the public to stay calm and avoid sharing unverified information while the investigation continues.

Disaster management authorities in Banga announced that classes had been suspended at all levels across the entire municipality because of the shooting. The Philippine Red Cross said it had deployed medical teams to assist in the aftermath, and police remain at the scene investigating, according to local media.

Gun crime is relatively common in the Philippines, which has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the region, though shootings at schools remain rare. In June, a shooting at a high school in the central Philippines left three students dead and others injured; investigators believed it was motivated by a grudge over bullying.