A shooting at Banga National High School in South Cotabato, Philippines triggered an emergency response on Friday, September 18, 2026. Initial reports said one person was killed and four others injured, according to South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo. But authorities later gave higher casualty figures as information from the scene was verified.
Shooting reported at Banga National High School
The incident took place at Banga National High School in Banga town at around 1:18–1:30 p.m. local time, local authorities and media reports said.
Police said there was a shooting on the school campus and emergency teams were sent to help those affected. Four people had been injured and taken to hospitals, the first reports said.
The incident led authorities to suspend classes in Banga municipality as authorities tried to figure out what happened.
Initial Death And Injury Figures Changed
The first reports from the provincial governor put the toll at one dead and four injured. Reuters carried that figure in its first report on September 18.
However, casualty numbers shifted as emergency authorities gathered more information. Two students and seven others died and eight more were injured later, GMA News reported later in the day and Reuters said three students had died and eight others were injured. The suspected shooter, identified by local officials as a 16-year-old student, was among those killed.
Because the situation was developing rapidly, early reports should be considered as preliminary.
Suspected shooter among those killed
According to subsequent reports, the suspected shooter was a student at the school. Banga Mayor Albert Palencia said the suspect was 16 years old and had told friends before the shooting that he intended to carry out his plan after lunch.
Reuters reported the suspected shooter later turned the gun on himself.
Classes Suspended Across Banga
Following the shooting, classes at all levels in Banga were suspended. Local disaster-response agencies worked with police and other emergency personnel as the investigation continued.
The Philippine Department of Education said they were deeply troubled by the incident and the safety and well-being of students, teachers and school personnel was their top priority.
