Shooter at Banga National High School was into deep dark web --DILG

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The shooter who was behind the deadly incident at the Banga National High School in South Cotabato was into the deep dark web, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Saturday.

"He was into deep dark web which influenced him," DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said.

"According to his phone, he left several notes detailing his depression at tuloy-tuloy ito (this went on). It was discovered in April 2026. Parents tried to handle the situation ngunit nagkulang (but it was not enough)," he said.

Remulla said the incident occurred at 1 p.m. Friday.

"Three children are confirmed dead," he said, saying two were students and one other was the shooter. Eight were injured.

"This is another incident and one too many. Again for the third time, an illegal gun was used which was not secured," Remulla said.

The DILG chief said the gun belonged to the shooter's father who is a disaster risk mitigation officer of the Department of Education (DepEd).

"May 3 licensed firearms ('yung ama). Hindi secured enough. Kinuha ng bata ang baril," he added.

(The father had three licensed firearms. These were not secured enough. The child took one gun.)

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. meanwhile conveyed condolences to the families of the fatalities.

"Ang PNP ay nakikiramay," he said.

(The PNP sends its sympathies.)

Nartatez said investigators are looking at the events and actions that have transpired before the shooting to determine what led the shooter to commit the crime.

"For one thing, hindi natin mabasa ang pag-iisip ng isang tao but we can investigate or look into the actions before these incidents," he said.

(For one thing, we cannot read the mind of one person but we can investigate or look into the actions before these incidents.)

Remulla meanwhile said police are looking into various personal effects of the shooter.

"Notes, cellular phone, other gadgets that we can subject to forensic investigation," he said.

"Record shows he's into heavy activities with the social media as well as internet activities showing violent activities," Remulla said.

The DILG chief advised parents to check on what their children are looking up on social media, and what websites they visit.

"Tingnan ninyo. It is not a privacy issue. Anak n'yo 'yan... Nalulublob sila sa malalalim at madidilim na websites," Remulla said.

(Look at those. It is not a privacy issue. That is your child... They are being drawn to deep and dark websites.) —KG, GMANews