Manila : Three students, including a 16-year-old suspected gunman, were killed and eight others injured in a shooting at a high school in the southern Philippines. Four of the injured were in critical condition.
Local authorities said the shooting occurred in Banga town, South Cotabato province. All the victims were students aged between 14 and 17.
Albert Palencia, Mayor of Banga, said the suspect opened fire on students after lunch before turning the gun on himself.
The incident follows two fatal school shootings in the Philippines since June, where such incidents had previously been relatively rare.
Last month, a student livestreamed himself shooting and killing another student in a classroom in the southern city of Zamboanga before taking his own life.
The Philippines has relatively strict gun ownership regulations, including background checks and psychological evaluation requirements, although illegal firearms remain in circulation.
Reynaldo Tamayo, South Cotabato Governor, urged gun owners to ensure firearms were kept out of the reach of minors, stressing the importance of storing them safely.
