At least one person was killed and four others injured in a shooting at a high school in the southern Philippines on Friday, authorities said, raising fresh concerns over a series of violent incidents at schools in the country.
The shooting took place in Banga town in South Cotabato province. Provincial Governor Reynaldo Tamayo confirmed to Reuters that one person had died and four others were wounded, although he did not provide further details about the victims or the suspected shooter.
Police confirmed that a shooting had occurred, while the Department of Education said it was deeply concerned about the incident.
The latest attack comes after two other shootings at schools in the southern Philippines since June. Such incidents have historically been relatively uncommon in the country.
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A series of school shootings
The most recent incident follows a shooting at a school in Zamboanga last month, when a student livestreamed himself shooting and killing another student inside a classroom before taking his own life.
In June, at least three students were killed and around 20 others injured in an attack at a public high school in Tacloban. Two students reportedly opened fire on the campus.
The incidents have drawn attention to school security and gun access in a country where firearm ownership is subject to relatively strict regulations.
Philippine regulations require gun owners to undergo background checks and psychological evaluations. However, illegal firearms remain in circulation, presenting an additional challenge for authorities seeking to prevent gun violence.
Security concerns
The latest shooting comes amid broader concerns about violence in schools across parts of Southeast Asia.
Thailand also experienced a high profile school shooting in August, when a student carried out a shooting rampage at a school on the outskirts of Bangkok.
While the incidents occurred in different countries and their circumstances remain distinct, the recent attacks have renewed attention on school security, firearm access and the ability of authorities to identify potential threats before violence occurs.
Philippine authorities have yet to release further details about the circumstances surrounding Friday’s shooting or identify the suspected attacker.
With information from Reuters.
