Third Philippines school shooting since June: Three high school students killed

A shooting at a high school in the southern Philippines left at least one person dead and four others injured on Friday, according to the governor of South Cotabato province.The incident took place in the town of Banga and was confirmed by police. Authorities have not yet released details about the suspected shooter or explained what led to the attack.The Department of Education said it was deeply concerned about the reported shooting.Third school shooting in recent monthsThe latest incident comes after two other shootings at schools in the southern Philippines since June. Such attacks have previously been uncommon in the country.South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo told Reuters that one person had died and four had been wounded, but he did not provide further information about the victims or the circumstances of the shooting.Last month, a student in Zamboanga live-streamed himself shooting and killing another student inside a classroom before taking his own life.In June, two students opened fire at a public high school in Tacloban, killing at least three students and injuring around 20 others.Illegal guns remain a concernThe Philippines has relatively strict rules governing gun ownership. Applicants are subject to background checks and psychological evaluations before they can legally possess firearms.However, illegal guns continue to circulate in the country, posing a challenge for authorities.The latest shooting also comes after a high-profile school shooting in Thailand in August, when a student went on a shooting rampage at a school on the outskirts of Bangkok.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.