The UAE has condemned a deadly shooting at a school in the Philippines that has left students dead and others injured, as authorities investigate how a teenage suspect allegedly gained access to a firearm.
The shooting took place at Banga National High School in Banga, South Cotabato, on Friday (September 18), prompting an investigation by Philippine authorities.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) expressed its condolences to the victims’ families and the Filipino people, while wishing those injured a speedy recovery.
In a statement, the ministry reiterated the UAE’s rejection of violence and extremism, condemning acts that threaten security and stability.
Deadly shooting at South Cotabato school
The incident reportedly claimed the lives of two students and the 16-year-old suspected gunman, while eight others were injured, according to initial reports from local authorities.
Banga Mayor Albert Palencia said the suspected shooter was a Grade 9 student who allegedly obtained a 9mm pistol belonging to his father, a Department of Education employee. The student reportedly accessed the firearm from a secured vault at home.
According to the mayor, the teenager had warned friends before the shooting that they should go home after lunch because he planned to do something. His friends reportedly did not take the warning seriously, believing he was joking.
The student allegedly opened fire on pupils in another classroom before turning the gun on himself.
Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, including how the minor obtained the firearm and brought it into the school.
The Banga shooting is the latest in a series of fatal school shooting incidents reported in the Philippines in recent months. A shooting at a school in Tacloban City on June 22 left at least three students dead and around 20 others wounded. On August 18, a student was killed in a shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University.
The latest incident has renewed concerns about school safety and minors’ access to firearms. Philippine authorities have called for a thorough investigation into the Banga shooting. ICA/Expat Media
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