Gov’t chasing people influencing students to terrorize schools; 4 plans foiled

MANILA, Philippines — The government is currently going after individuals who have been influencing students to start shooting sprees inside schools, with Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla saying that they are close to catching one of those behind these efforts.

In an ambush interview on Tuesday, Remulla was asked about developments regarding the recent shooting incident at the Banga National High School in South Cotabato last Friday, considering that the shooter is believed to have been influenced by certain individuals online.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) chief said that they are also from the Philippines, with one nearly caught and four other individuals involved in planning school shootings caught.

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“(Galing) Pilipinas eh, actually, halos nahuli na namin ‘yong isa, we are chasing him right now. We located him already but he wasn’t there at the location na akala namin, we know where he lives, alam namin, nando’n rin, tiga same area rin nakatira,” Remulla said.

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(They’re from the Philippines eh, actually, we almost caught one of them; we are chasing him right now. We located him already, but he wasn’t there at the location we thought he was at, but we know where he lives, and he lives in the same area.)

READ: Campus shooter ‘planned  attack, warned classmates’

“Marami ’yon, actually we caught four others who were planning to do the same actions. Kaya nga sabi sa inyo, it takes all of my attention to make sure that this is stopped, all the necessary procedures, we’re restudying it, and kahit dumating sa how to take down those websites, pinag-aaralan namin kung ano ang gagawin,” he added.

(There are many individuals, actually we caught four others who were planning to do the same actions. That’s why I have told you that it takes all of my attention to make sure that this is stopped, all the necessary procedures, we’re restudying it, and if we reach a point that we have to take down those websites, we will study what we have to do.)

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According to Remulla, he has already postponed his trip to France—meant to find former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co—to focus on the recent spate of school shooting incidents.

“Yeah, it’s derailed because […] I have to fix this school shooting situation first; we’re meeting with experts tomorrow, and we have to come up with a comprehensive plan,” he said.

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“We have to come up with a more comprehensive plan, and that takes precedence over everything. I have to finish that, and then I will move on to the other one,” he added.

Three students, including the shooter, died after the incident at South Cotabato last Friday, while six others were injured.

READ: South Cotabato school shooting kills 3, hurts 6

Earlier, the Department of Education (DepEd) confirmed that the father of the student behind the incident—a disaster risk reduction management officer in the department—has been relieved from his post.

The father is allegedly the owner of the gun used by the student.

READ: DepEd says South Cotabato school shooter’s father relieved from post

School-related violence has seen an uptick in the country over the recent months—with the incident in South Cotabato being the third gun attack inside campuses in only three months.

Last August 18, the Ateneo de Zamboanga University confirmed that two individuals—including the Grade 9 student tagged as the shooter—died after a shooting incident inside their campus.

READ: Zamboanga City school shooting suspect dead — DILG

Then on June 22, three students were killed, and five others were wounded when two suspects—both minors and students—opened fire inside the San Jose National High School campus in Tacloban City, Leyte.

The suspects, a 14-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy at the Grade 9 level, were arrested on the same day. A Glock pistol and a caliber .38 revolver were confiscated from them.

Due to the incidents, several lawmakers and government officials have called for a social media ban for children, amid fears that unrestricted online access has influenced students to initiate shooting incidents.

There is a belief that the perpetrators in both incidents were supposedly exposed to violent content online or joined groups engaged in nihilistic violent extremist (NVE) behavior or senseless violence.

READ: DOJ warns: Extremists targeting minors in violent online games

Last August 28, Senator Risa Hontiveros relayed that Philippine authorities have been able to secure a commitment from Meta, which owns and manages social media sites Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, along with other messaging apps, to provide authorities important information should they spot a possible threat to children.

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Then on Sept. 7, the House of Representatives’ committee on welfare of children approved a substitute bill that proposes a full social media ban for children below 13, and restrictions on the said technology’s use for those aged 13 to 18 as a means to shield young people from harmful content online. /cb