Senate probe sees ‘extremist’ influence in Tacloban campus slays

Sen. Risa Hontiveros —INQUIRER PHOTO/NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — A Senate committee flagged the operations of an online extremist group that it suspected of influencing the June 22 school shooting in Tacloban City, as it opened an inquiry into the incident.

Wednesday’s hearing also raised calls for stronger interventions to protect the youth from online violence that could lead to real-life aggression.

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Sen. Risa Hontiveros, chair of the committee on women and children, said there were indications that the shooting incident may have been influenced by “764,” an “online nihilistic violent extremist (NVE)” group that infiltrates popular gaming platforms to brainwash vulnerable minors.

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Hontiveros said the group, which started in Texas in the United States, exploits platforms like Roblox, Minecraft, and Gorebox to find targets. The 764 has been designated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a “national security threat” and by the Canadian government as a terrorist group, she noted.

READ: 24 minors rescued from extremist group True Crime Community

“According to the FBI, the leaders of the group are luring victims to create graphic pornography, to harm family pets, to cut themselves with sharp objects, or to even die by suicide,” the senator said.

“How? They first befriend their targets and give them a sense of belonging, making them feel they have a place before leading them into darker and more dangerous acts,” she added.

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‘Nash’

The Senate inquiry was prompted by recent violent school-related incidents, including the Tacloban City shooting involving two underage suspects who were reportedly influenced and manipulated by a local NVE network before carrying out the attack that left three high school students dead and 20 others wounded.

READ: Senate hearing: Tacloban school shooter shot best friend in the back

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“Within the group, there are materials on sextortion, or threats involving sexual images. There are also materials related to making weapons or explosives, among other dangerous activities,” Hontiveros said.

“The hard part is when children do not feel respect and belonging in real life, those gaps can be filled by malicious online communities—with heavy consequences: in obedience, in inflicting harm, and sometimes, in violence,” she added.

Hontiveros presented social media accounts which independent investigators linked to one of the suspects in the Tacloban shooting, who was given the alias “Nash.”

Nash posted on his Facebook account his photo wearing a shirt with the name of the band KMFDM.

“While the KMFDM band is not involved in 764, many members of communities like 764 use that shirt to glorify the Columbine killer,” she said.

Deactivated accounts

Several alleged NVE network members even commented on the dummy Facebook page of Nash, expressing support and praising him for the attack.

One of those who left a comment, asking Nash to delete several apps like Discord, Reddit, and Telegram “so there will be no evidence,” was suspected to be an adult groomer out to recruit minors.

Hontiveros said the social media accounts identified with Nash and others who commented on his page were once active on Meta platforms but have since been deactivated.

“Meaning, there are real people behind these profiles,” she said.

During the hearing, Police Staff Sergeant Arla Ray Paciencia, the aunt of Nash, said her nephew “unlawfully” entered her house to get the gun used in the attack.

She also admitted bringing her nephew to the firing range “once,” saying the boy wanted to become a police officer like her someday.

Jenelyn Badoria, mother of one of the slain victims, Joyancee Separa, appealed for lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility. She also called for the parents and aunt of the 14-year-old suspect to also be held accountable.

Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, who was also present at the hearing, said Nash is currently detained in a government youth facility and will undergo intense intervention until he is rehabilitated.

‘Not total ban’

Hontiveros clarified that she is not seeking a total ban on online gaming. But she emphasized the need to dismantle organized groups that use fake online identities to groom children and coerce them into self-harm, cybersex extortion, and acts of real-world violence.

“The games or the gaming community are not the enemy. This is about the dangers that children can face while playing and communicating online,” she said.

The investigation also questioned institutional lapses regarding gun control and how the minors involved in the Tacloban incident managed to gain access to the firearms.

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Hontiveros also said the information presented during the Senate inquiry should not yet be treated as conclusive evidence. /cb