Online threats surge in S. Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat after Banga shooting

KORONADAL CITY, SOUTH COTABATO, Philippines — Police have recorded a sharp rise in online threats following the Sept. 18 shooting at Banga National High School in South Cotabato, with authorities arresting about 40 people in connection with such cases.

Police Brig. Gen. Allan Manibog, Police Regional Office (PRO) 12 director, said 65 online threats were recorded from Sept. 18 to Sept. 27, or a span of only 10 days.

In comparison, police recorded only 13 such threats during the 73-day period from July 7, when PRO-12 logged its first online threat this year, to Sept. 17, a day before the Banga shooting.

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“There has been a significant increase in reports of online threats since the incident in Banga,” Manibog said in a radio interview on Monday.

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At a press briefing on Monday, South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. said police authorities had apprehended about 40 people—20 in South Cotabato and another 20 in nearby Sultan Kudarat—as local governments and police stepped up their response to threats circulating online.

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Tamayo said some of those apprehended were adults placed in the custody of authorities, while minors were turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

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He credited the coordination between local government units and the police, particularly PRO-12 under Manibog, for the arrests.

Just a joke?

“We immediately took action. That is why the number of those apprehended has reached 40, through the partnership between the local government units and the PNP (Philippine National Police),” Tamayo said.

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Manibog noted most of the individuals rescued or traced in subsequent cases were minors who later told police that they were only joking or trying to scare others.

Based on police assessments, including interviews and examination of their cell phones, authorities found no indication that most of the minors actually intended to carry out the threats they posted online, he said.

Manibog described many of the cases as apparent “copycat” behavior following the Banga shooting.

“They don’t understand what they are doing, these children,” he said. “But on the part of the PNP, we take this seriously and act on it immediately.”

Tamayo said authorities were also able to trace people allegedly using fake Facebook accounts to post threats.

“We have found ways to identify those posting on Facebook. Even fake accounts, we are able to trace them,” the governor said.

Tamayo said authorities were prepared to take necessary steps to identify those behind online threats, including measures involving information normally protected by privacy rules.

“If necessary, even when it involves your privacy, just to make sure that we catch these people, we will do it,” Tamayo said. “Even fake accounts, we can trace them and dig them up.”

Manibog, meanwhile, said PRO-12 continues to conduct cyberpatrolling to detect threatening posts and respond to reports from the public.

The surge in online threats, he said, also underscored the need to strengthen the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group and similar units in other law enforcement agencies as more security concerns emerge online.

“The trend has changed. Incidents are now more on the internet, in cyberspace,” Manibog said. “We really need to strengthen our Anti-Cybercrime Unit, not only in the PNP but also in other law enforcement agencies with the same mandate to look into this kind of problem.”

High alert

The increase in reported threats came in the wake of the Sept. 18 Banga National High School shooting, which prompted authorities and schools across the region to tighten security and closely monitor threats circulating on social media.

In Iloilo City, the city government and the Iloilo City Police Office (Icpo) intensified security measures following reports of online threats targeting at least two public schools last week, prompting a swift response to ensure the safety of students and school personnel.

On Monday, Mayor Raisa Treñas immediately convened an emergency meeting with representatives from 26 private schools offering high school and senior high school programs, alongside the police officials and other partner agencies, to address the situation and establish concrete security protocols.

Icpo assured the public that they are taking the threats seriously. Police visibility has been heightened around school premises, and close coordination with school administrations and the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit 6 is ongoing to trace the source of the threats and identify the individuals responsible.

Authorities from both the city government and Icpo are appealing to the public to remain calm and to avoid sharing unverified information, screenshots, or speculation online, which they said only causes unnecessary fear and panic.

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“More often than not, the spread of unverified information can add to fear and anxiety. Let us remain responsible and work together for the peace of our community,” a statement from the authorities read. —With a report from Ian Paul Cordero