Monitor kids' online activities, PNP says after Tacloban school shooting

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. urged parents to monitor their children’s activities online after a suspect in the Tacloban City school shooting incident was found to have posted gun-related videos on social media.

“Parents and guardians serve as the first line of defense. They must be present and vigilant in their children’s digital lives, treating their online activity with the same level of concern as their physical whereabouts,” Nartatez said in a statement on Tuesday.

“The warning signs are often subtle—social withdrawal, obsession with violent imagery, or the use of radicalized language—and when these red flags appear, early reporting to local police or school authorities is not just a precaution but a necessity to save lives,” he added.

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READ: Tacloban shooting suspect posted gun-related videos online

The shooting incident took place when two Grade 9 students, aged 14 and 15, opened fire inside the premises of the San Jose National High School on Monday morning.

Both minors were taken into police custody.

The national police force’s latest tally showed three students were killed during the incident, while 13 others were wounded.

In a press briefing on Monday afternoon, PNP public information chief Col. Allen Rae Co said one of the two suspects had allegedly posted videos related to how to fire a gun on his social media prior to the incident.

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Co did not identify which of the suspects had made the supposed posts.

“We are currently working with the Department of Education to formalize these safety protocols because securing our schools is a shared, non-negotiable responsibility that requires the constant, active involvement of every adult in a child’s circle of trust,” Nartatez said.

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“We are also calling on our teachers and school administrators to act as our partners in this ‘digital watch,’ identifying early behavioral shifts or concerning interests in students so we can intervene long before any harm is done,” he added. /gsg

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