The incident comes after two other school shootings in the southern Philippines since June, raising fresh concerns over school safety in a country where such attacks were previously rare. At least one person has been killed and four others injured after a shooting at Banga National High School in Banga town, South Cotabato, on Friday, according to provincial Governor Reynaldo Tamayo. Police have confirmed that a shooting took place at the school as authorities continue to investigate the incident. Tamayo told Reuters that one person had died and four were wounded, but did not provide details about the identity of the victims or the suspected shooter. The Department of Education said it was deeply concerned and was working with local authorities and law enforcement to verify the circumstances. Local reports have cited varying casualty figures as the investigation develops. Some later reports have reported more people injured and a second death, but authorities have yet to establish a final toll. The Banga shooting comes after two other school shooting incidents in the southern Philippines since June. School shootings have historically been relatively uncommon in the country. On June 22, two students reportedly opened fire at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, killing at least three schoolmates and injuring around 20 others. On August 18, a shooting was reported at Ateneo de Zamboanga University, where a student armed with two pistols allegedly shot and killed a schoolmate. The latest incident in Banga has renewed concerns over safety at schools in the southern Philippines. The Philippine Department of Education has urged the public to avoid spreading unverified information while authorities investigate the latest shooting. It said psychological first aid and mental-health support would be made available to those affected. Yuvraj Tyagi is a Senior Copy Editor, specializing in security, national, international and defense affairs. With extensive experience covering the Ka... View More