A Grade 12 student was killed after being struck by a bullet amid ongoing tension in Sitio Damatulan in Nabalawag, in the Special Geographic Area (SGA), alarming residents and raising concerns over the safety of civilians caught in areas affected by armed conflict.
The victim was identified as Nadia Haron, a senior high school student at GANI L. ABPI College Inc. (GLACI) – Main Campus.
According to her classmates, Nadia had earlier informed them that she would temporarily skip school because of the conflict affecting their community. Their final examinations were scheduled that day, but the worsening security situation prompted her family to prepare for evacuation.
Reports from residents and fellow students said the incident occurred in front of their home while Nadia was retrieving some belongings as they were about to leave the area due to the continuing exchange of gunfire nearby.
At around 3 p.m., one of her classmates reportedly received a message confirming that Nadia had already died—around the same time she was believed to have been shot.
Information gathered from residents and her peers indicated that the bullet that hit Nadia was allegedly not stray fire. Witness accounts claimed that she was deliberately shot, with the bullet striking her in the face, causing her immediate death.
The incident has heightened fear among residents of the community, where tension remains high and the situation continues to be described as dangerous due to ongoing armed hostilities in nearby areas.
Nadia has since been laid to rest, according to her classmates and relatives, as grief and outrage spread among those who knew her and within the school community.
Residents are now calling for the immediate de-escalation of violence to prevent further civilian casualties, especially among vulnerable communities living close to conflict zones.
Authorities and local leaders, meanwhile, continue to remind residents in affected areas to remain vigilant and coordinate with concerned agencies and local officials to ensure their safety as tensions persist.