PNP admits using Discord, says ops not disrupted during temporary ban

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday admitted using social media platform Discord but said its operation was not disrupted when the app was earlier banned for 24 hours.

During a press briefing on Friday, PNP spokesperson PCol. Allen Rae Co said Discord is one of the various platforms that the police are using for their mode of communication, such as radio communications.

“Meron po talaga tayong system na gumagamit ng Discord, depende lang po sa need of the situation kung ano ang mas ginagamit po nating platform,” Co said. 

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(We actually have a system that uses Discord, it just depends on the need of the situation and which platform we use.)

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READ: DICT, online platform execs meet; Discord ban lifted

“There was no disruption sa ating operation. We have ready contingency plans. We do not rely on just one mode of communication. Kung mag-fail man ang isang system, meron po tayo palaging naka-ready,” he pointed out.

(There was no disruption in our operation. We have ready contingency plans. We do not rely on just one mode of communication. If a system fails, we are always ready.)

It was on Wednesday when the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) confirmed the banning of Discord in the Philippines to prompt concrete action from the company amid issues of online violence in schools and communities.

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The banning was lifted on Thursday after Discord officers supposedly promised to cooperate with Philippine government agencies to implement stronger child safety protocols and address government concerns regarding grooming and nihilistic violent extremism, among others.

Various cases of school online threats and school-related violence had been reported in the country over the past three months, starting June 16.

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Last Monday, a 13-year-old student in Sultan Kudarat allegedly issued online shooting threats against a school in Lambayong town. The investigation into this incident is ongoing. /mr