School Shooter Linked to Deep Dark Web Influence

• •The shooter was heavily influenced by content from the deep dark web.
• •The attack resulted in two fatalities and eight injuries, with two in critical condition.
• •Authorities are considering new laws to restrict minors' access to harmful online content.

A 16-year-old student at Banga National High School in South Cotabato went on a shooting spree, killing two classmates and injuring eight others before taking his own life. The shooter was reportedly suffering from depression and had accessed harmful content on the deep dark web, which authorities believe influenced his actions. The firearm used in the attack belonged to his father, a disaster risk mitigation officer for the Department of Education, and was not properly secured. The incident has raised concerns about the accessibility of violent content online, prompting calls for legislative action to limit minors' access to social media platforms. The shooter had left notes detailing his mental struggles, which his parents discovered earlier this year. This incident is part of a troubling trend of school shootings in the Philippines, following similar attacks in Tacloban and Zamboanga City earlier in 2026.