Teen’s Planned School Shooting at Banga High Exposed After Prior Warnings to Classmates

Mayor Albert Palencia reported that a 16-year-old student who attacked Banga National High School had been planning the assault since August and had told classmates hours before the incident to go home, warnings that were taken as jokes. Group-chat messages showed an initial target date of Sept. 3 that was later moved to Friday. The gun, allegedly stored in the father’s vault, was taken to school where the shooter began firing around 1:15 p.m., injuring a 14-year-old girl named Rhea with a minor graze.

The school, with over 3,000 students and only one guard, lacks comprehensive screening, prompting calls for broader security checks involving teachers and parents. Education Secretary Sonny Angara acknowledged the system’s unpreparedness and pledged cooperation with the DICT and DILG to investigate possible online influences, including the “True Crime Community” group. The investigation will focus on how the firearm was accessed and whether earlier warnings could have prevented the attack.