Not just bullying? DOJ probes nihilistic extremism in Tacloban shooting

MANILA, Philippines —The Department of Justice (DOJ) is exploring the possibility that the shooting in Tacloban City may have stemmed from a pattern of Nihilistic Violent Extremism (NVE) rather than a simple case of school bullying.

DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez explained that children can be easily radicalized by the content they encounter online.

Martinez said the incident may “point to a larger trend or pattern of extremism.”

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“So, I think, to downplay the discourse to just a simple bullying incident would be to downplay the whole issue entirely,” he noted.

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“These are all possibilities we are looking into – if it’s a form of extremism, if it’s NVE, Nihilistic Violent Extremism,” he enumerated.

NVE, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s website, refers to the factors that motivate most subjects to commit criminal acts.

“They want to sow chaos and facilitate the destruction of society. These extremists often emerge from decentralized online networks and subcultures that glorify violence, mass killers and self-harm,” it stated.

Martinez cited the historical example of the Columbine shooting to illustrate how impressionable minds might be influenced by such narratives.

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He believes that the incident warrants a deeper analysis into behavioral trends beyond immediate interpersonal conflicts.

Understanding the Legal Framework

While the investigation into the specific motives continues, the DOJ clarified that the incident remains subject to the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act (RA 9344).

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The department stressed that being a minor does not automatically equate to total exemption from accountability; rather, the law provides specific mechanisms to handle such cases.

Martinez outlined the following distinctions under current law:

Below 15 Years Old: Offenders are subject to mandatory intervention programs. These may involve placement in a “Bahay Pag-asa” (Home of Hope) or community-based intervention overseen by local government units and social workers, with a focus on the child’s best interest.

15 to 18 Years Old: The crucial legal factor is “discernment”—the capacity to understand that one’s actions are wrong. If discernment is established, the appropriate criminal charges may be filed with the prosecutor’s office.

For now, Martinez said, the department is looking at the moves of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and local law enforcement as they establish the fundamental details of the case.

The details include the ages of those involved, the nature of the victims, and the sequence of events.

“We have to wait for the facts to be fully established first. Let’s not preempt the decision or the findings by law enforcement,” the DOJ spokesperson said. /apl

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