ISULAN, Sultan Kudarat (October 2) — A loud blast that sounded like gunfire sent students and teachers into lockdown at Isulan National High School on Wednesday, but police later confirmed that no shooting occurred and no one was hurt.
The scare began at about 10:26 a.m. when students and faculty reported hearing loud explosions inside the school compound in Barangay Kalawag 1.
The Isulan Municipal Police Station immediately deployed security teams, placed the campus on lockdown and cleared classrooms to make sure students and school personnel were safe.
A technical inspection by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), along with police and local authorities, pointed to a possible faulty electrical wiring malfunction as the source of the noise.
Sultan Kudarat Gov. Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu said police found no ammunition or spent shells during their sweep of the campus.
“We would like to clearly assure the public that there was no shooting incident at Isulan National High School,” Mangudadatu said in a public statement.
Acting Sultan Kudarat Police Provincial Office director Col. Marvin Fontalva likewise said all students and teachers were safe and that no injuries had been reported.
Police personnel continued coordinating with school officials and other agencies while authorities verified the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Rumors spread quickly
The apparent gunfire triggered concern among parents and the wider community, underscoring how quickly an unexplained blast inside a school can fuel fears of a shooting.
Local officials urged residents to avoid sharing unverified reports on social media and rely on announcements from police, the school and other concerned authorities.
The Municipal Government of Isulan also maintained security around the school while the technical assessment continued.
With no shooting, casualties or injuries reported, authorities said the situation was under control and school operations could resume.
The incident, however, highlighted the importance of immediate emergency protocols: the lockdown gave authorities time to secure the campus first while determining what caused the frightening sound.
