Gov’t blocks 2 websites luring kids to violence

MANILA, Philippines — The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has blocked two websites allegedly being used by “groomers” to encourage minors to commit real-world crimes after authorities cited a possible link between these and recent cases of school violence, including three on-campus shootings this year that left eight students dead and at least 28 wounded.

Philippine National Police spokesperson Col. Allen Rae Co, in a press briefing on Monday, said that the NTC directed internet service providers (ISPs) to make the websites inaccessible in the Philippines based on a request from the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group.

“These websites espouse real-world violence. They groom [children] and give them tasks, starting from easy ones until such time these involve shooting and hurting people in real life,” Co told reporters.

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“Access to those websites has already been blocked by the NTC by instructing our ISPs,” he said.

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The police official did not provide more information about the websites, saying that an investigation is ongoing.

Asked if there was a connection between the websites and recent violent incidents involving minors, Co replied: “They definitely influenced incidents that happened recently.”

He said the PNP is currently identifying other websites espousing real-world violence on social media, adding: “We are doing everything to check if there are others grooming our young people.”

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Online threats

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., meanwhile, urged the public to use social media responsibly after authorities took action against seven students and an adult over alleged online threats following the Sept. 18 shooting at Banga National High School in Banga, South Cotabato, that left three students dead, including the shooter, and six others wounded.

“Let this be a reminder that social media is not a place to make threats or create fear,” Nartatez said on Monday. “Just because a post was made online, it doesn’t mean it has no real-life impact.”

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Two students aged 16 and a third aged 18, according to South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr., were arrested separately in the province on Sunday after they allegedly threatened to harm other students just like the Banga shooting.

Tamayo said authorities were preparing charges against the minors but would first seek clearance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) because of their age. Provincial legal officers were also studying whether charges could be filed against their parents, he added.

In Sultan Kudarat, police officers questioned a 13-year-old student, identified only as “Jaf,” after he allegedly posted photos of firearms and threatened to carry out a shooting at Kapingkong National High School.

Maj. Jayson Ortega, Lambayong municipal police chief, said the case was being handled cautiously because of the student’s age. A teacher, the student’s family and a social welfare officer were present during the questioning.

No connection

In Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat, the police also questioned two students and an adult seen handling an alleged firearm in a video that went viral after the Banga shooting. The students were brought to the police station by their parents, while the adult was also questioned.

But Brig. Gen. Alan Manibog, Soccsksargen regional police director, said the video was recorded in July and not connected to the Sept. 18 incident or intended as a threat.

In Baguio City, police and education officials are also investigating an alleged gun threat at Lucban Integrated School involving a 13-year-old Grade 8 student.

School principal Felto Agpawa said the student allegedly pointed an unserviceable firearm at a classmate on Sept. 16. The three students involved were referred for psychosocial assessment and later to the DSWD for further observation.

Col. Nixon Laoyan, Baguio police chief, said the firearm was not owned by the police or any other uniformed personnel. The school, which has 2,399 students and only one security guard, has subsequently tightened security with the help of parent volunteers.

Authorities have been looking at the possible influence played by social media in the rise in school violence in recent months.

In June, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center temporarily banned the video game GoreBox after two students went on a shooting spree at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, killing three other students and wounding 20 others.

One of the shooters, a 14-year-old student, reportedly frequently played the online game that features weapon simulation and graphic violence.

On Aug. 18, a 14-year-old Ateneo de Zamboanga University student brought his father’s firearm to campus and shot a senior schoolmate before also shooting himself.

Two other students were wounded.

The shooter streamed his actions on Facebook Live and though it was taken down in minutes, the video of the shooting circulated fast on different websites. This prompted telco giant PLDT Inc. to announce that it will block from its network more than 100 websites found to be streaming or hosting footage of school shootings and “other acts of extreme violence.”

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Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the shooter may have been influenced by the gaming platform Roblox. The student was also found to have an online search history of websites supposedly containing hate speech based on an examination of his cell phone and laptop. —With reports from Andrea Gregorio, Maureen Matayew and Inquirer Research