Two students have died following a shooting at a school in the southern Philippines, including the student identified by police as the gunman.
The incident took place on Tuesday at a school affiliated with Ateneo de Zamboanga University in Zamboanga City. According to a preliminary police report, the Grade 9 student brought both a pistol and a rifle onto the school campus and opened fire inside a classroom.
Police said the suspected shooter subsequently killed himself. The other victim was a male student in Grade 10, one year above the alleged attacker.
University officials said the situation was brought under control and there was no longer an active threat on campus.
School Officials Confirm Situation Is Under Control
University president Ernald Andal confirmed that the shooting had ended and said there were no additional fatalities or reported injuries.
“We do not want any of these things to happen. We wish to prioritise the safety of all our students,” Andal said.
The incident prompted a significant security response, with armed police and soldiers seen outside the school. Crime scene investigators also arrived at the campus as authorities began examining the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Footage broadcast by Philippine news channel ANC showed students and parents gathering outside the school gates following the incident.
Second School Shooting in Less Than Two Months
The shooting comes only weeks after another deadly incident at a Philippine school.
In June 2026, two students reportedly opened fire at a public high school in Tacloban City, killing at least three students and injuring around 20 others.
The latest incident has therefore renewed concerns over school security despite school shootings being relatively uncommon in the Philippines.
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The country has comparatively strict regulations governing civilian gun ownership. These include background checks and psychological assessments for people seeking to legally possess firearms.
However, authorities continue to face challenges from the circulation of illegal firearms.
Investigation Underway
Police are now investigating how the Grade 9 student was able to bring a rifle and pistol onto the school premises and what circumstances preceded the shooting.
Authorities have not immediately disclosed a possible motive for the attack.
The school is located on an approximately 8-hectare (19.8-acre) campus and accommodates grade-school and junior-high-school students, according to information published on the institution’s website.
The presence of younger students has heightened concerns about how firearms entered the campus and whether additional security measures may be required.
Incident Follows Thailand School Shooting
The Philippine shooting also occurred less than 10 days after a high-profile school shooting in Thailand.
In that incident, a student reportedly went on a shooting rampage at a school on the outskirts of Bangkok, drawing renewed attention across the region to school security and access to firearms.
While school shootings remain relatively rare in the Philippines, the two fatal incidents reported within a short period have raised concerns among parents, students and education authorities.
For now, Philippine authorities are continuing their investigation into Tuesday’s shooting, while school officials have stressed that the immediate situation is under control and that student safety remains their priority.
