Three students have been killed and eight others injured in a shooting at a high school in the southern Philippines, according to local officials, in another deadly attack at a school in a country where such incidents have historically been rare.

The shooting happened on Friday, September 18, at Banga National High School in Banga town in South Cotabato province.

Banga Mayor Albert Palencia told Reuters that the dead included a 16 year old student suspected of carrying out the shooting before turning the gun on himself.

Eight other students were injured, with four reported to be in critical condition. All those killed or wounded were students aged between 14 and 17.

SUSPECTED GUNMAN WAS 16 YEARS OLD

According to Palencia, the suspected gunman had reportedly told friends before the attack that he was planning to do something after lunch.

His friends did not initially take the comment seriously because he was known to joke with them.

Authorities said the teenager later opened fire on students, hitting multiple people before shooting himself.

Investigators are working to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack, including how the teenager obtained the firearm and what motivated the shooting.

CLASSES SUSPENDED

Classes were suspended across Banga following the attack as emergency personnel and law enforcement responded.

The Philippine Department of Education said it was deeply concerned about the shooting and was coordinating with local authorities.

The department said the immediate priority was the safety and wellbeing of students, teachers and other school personnel.

Psychological first aid and mental health support are also expected to be provided to people affected by the incident.

THIRD SCHOOL SHOOTING SINCE JUNE

The attack is the third deadly school shooting reported in the Philippines since June.

In August, a student in Zamboanga livestreamed himself shooting and killing another student inside a classroom before taking his own life.

In June, at least three students were killed and about 20 others injured after two students opened fire at a public high school in Tacloban.

The recent incidents have raised new concerns about school security and access to firearms.

GOVERNOR CALLS FOR RESPONSIBLE GUN STORAGE

South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo urged gun owners and parents to ensure firearms are stored securely and kept away from minors.

The Philippines has regulations governing legal gun ownership that include background checks and psychological evaluations, although illegal firearms remain in circulation.

Authorities are expected to investigate how the weapon used in Friday's shooting was obtained.

The latest attack is likely to intensify scrutiny of firearm access and security inside Philippine schools as authorities confront a series of incidents that remain unusual in the country but have occurred with increasing frequency in recent months.