Full Breakdown
Deadly School Shooting at Banga National High School Leaves Multiple Dead and Injured
By Drooid · · How we work
The Shooting on September 18
On September 18, a 16-year-old Grade 9 student opened fire at Banga National High School in Banga, South Cotabato, Mindanao. He entered a classroom adjacent to his own after lunch and discharged a 9-mm pistol that police say belonged to his father, a Department of Education employee. He fired at ten students before turning the weapon on himself, ending the attack.
Recent History of School Violence in the Philippines
The incident follows two fatal school shootings earlier in the year: a June 22 attack in Tacloban that killed three pupils and injured about 20, and an August 18 livestreamed shooting in Zamboanga where a student killed a classmate before committing suicide.
Casualties and Weapon Details
- Deaths: Provincial officials reported three confirmed deaths – two 14-year-old students and the shooter.
- Injuries: Eight students were reported injured, with four in critical condition.
- Weapon: The firearm was a 9-mm pistol stored in a vault at the shooter’s home, which the boy broke into to retrieve.
Government and Local Officials' Responses
Governor Reynaldo Tamayo urged secure firearm storage and collective action to protect students. Mayor Albert Palencia described the shooter as an intelligent student and active taekwondo practitioner, noting no evidence of bullying. Education Secretary Sonny Angara, during a September 19 visit, acknowledged the Department of Education’s limited resources for physical security and pledged to seek assistance from other agencies. The Philippine National Police confirmed the incident is under investigation and the scene has been secured.
Public and On-the-Ground Accounts
Social-media videos showed children fleeing the campus, a wounded student being carried on a motorcycle sidecar, and a body outside a classroom. A teacher reported hearing a claim that two shooters were involved, while a student described the attackers as “outsiders.” Eyewitnesses said the suspect warned classmates to leave after lunch, a warning dismissed as a joke.
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
- Fatality counts: Sources differ between two, three, and six student deaths.
- Number of shooters: Some video-based accounts suggest two attackers, but officials have identified only the 16-year-old.
- Motivation: Police are investigating the teenager’s participation in an online “true crime” community; no motive has been established.
- Injury totals: Initial reports cited eight injured; later statements raised the figure before being retracted.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The suspect supposedly sat beside his friends and told them to go home ‘because after lunch, I will be executing my plan’. His friends laughed because the shooter was a known joker,” — Albert Palencia, town mayor
- “We need to be responsible in storing firearms. Gun owners, in particular, must make sure that minors do not have access to them,” — Reynaldo Tamayo, South Cotabato governor
- “We really need to strengthen security measures because we are truly not prepared for shootings like this,” — Sonny Angara, education secretary
What Comes Next
Authorities are continuing their investigation into how the firearm was accessed, the role of the online “true crime” community, and whether any additional individuals were involved. Governor Tamayo indicated a progress report will be released once available. Education Secretary Angara said the Department of Education will coordinate with other agencies to strengthen school security, including possible upgrades to fencing and staffing. The incident has reignited calls for stricter enforcement of gun-storage laws and expanded shooter-drill programs across the Philippines.
