NBI nabs 16-year-old ‘online groomer’ in Cebu
CEBU CITY — A 16-year-old boy is now in the custody of state social workers after being accused of grooming minors online and encouraging them to engage in violent activities, including school shootings, the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) said on Friday.
The teenager allegedly participated in an online group whose members discussed weapons, mass shootings and other violent activities, the NBI said in a statement.
Investigators also found communications that allegedly sought to groom minors into participating in unlawful acts.
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READ: 13 minors bolt juvenile detention center in Cebu City
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NBI-7’s Special Action Unit launched an online investigation in August after receiving intelligence from foreign counterparts about a possible mass shooting incident in a school setting.
Law enforcers identified the teen as an administrator and participant in an online group.
The suspect allegedly used multiple online identities and communicated with other group members about violent and graphic materials, weapons, mass shootings and “rampage” content.
Extremist ideas
“They found out that this groomer is based in Cebu, and is the administrator and member of a chat group that is engaged in violent extremist ideas,” said lawyer Dominador Cimafranca, director of NBI-7, in a follow-up press conference on Friday.
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The investigation also uncovered artificial intelligence-generated child sexual abuse material, according to the NBI-7.
Authorities further developed information about a planned livestream of violent activity reportedly involving one adult and two minors. The livestream was scheduled for December or early February, the agency said.
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On Sept. 22, NBI-7 applied for a warrant to search, seize and examine computer data before the regional trial court in Cebu City.
NBI-7 agents, together with operatives from its Central Visayas Regional Office, served the warrant the following day at a residence in Barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City.
Several electronic devices were seized and inventoried.
An initial examination of the devices allegedly showed that the suspect was actively communicating with members and other administrators of a group chat that the NBI-7 described as a “cult group.”
The messages allegedly included attempts to induce and groom members, including minors, to participate in violent and unlawful activities.
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The NBI-7 said the alleged grooming involved conditioning individuals for violence, including school shootings, and that charges were filed against the minor. Agent Maria Contessa Lastimoso urged parents to monitor their children’s online activities and limit screen time, especially for gaming. INQ
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