Hontiveros links Tacloban school shooting to online extremist group '764'

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday said the deadly school shooting in Tacloban City may be linked to “764,” an online extremist group allegedly luring children into violence and pornography.

During a hearing of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, Hontiveros said there were indications that the June 22 incident may have been influenced by “764,” an organization believed to be part of a nihilistic violent extremism (NVE) network.

According to Hontiveros, 764 has been designated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a “national security threat” and by the Canadian government as a terrorist group.

“Sabi mismo ng FBI, the leaders of the group are pushing victims to create graphic pornography, to harm family pets, to cut themselves with sharp objects, or to even die by suicide,” she said.

“Paano? Kinakaibigan muna. Binibigyan ng sense of belonging. Pinaparamdam na may lugar sila. At saka unti-unting hinihikayat sa mas madilim at mas mapanganib na gawain,” she added.

(How? They first befriend their targets and give them a sense of belonging, making them feel they have a place before gradually luring them into darker and more dangerous acts.)

The senator said there were also indications that NVE networks were recruiting members through online games such as Roblox, Minecraft and GoreBox.

“Sa loob ng grupo, may mga materyales tungkol sa sextortion o iyong pananakot gamit ang mga sexual images, meron ding tungkol sa paggawa ng armas o eksplosibo, at iba pang mapanganib na gawain,” she said.

(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.)

“Ang mahirap nito, kung hindi nararamdaman ng bata sa totoong buhay ang respeto at pagtanggap o belonging, ang mga puwang na iyan ay pinupunuan ng mga masasamang online community nang may mabigat na kapalit: sa pagsunod, sa pananakit, at minsan, sa karahasan,” Hontiveros added.

(What makes this dangerous is that when children do not feel respect and belonging in real life, those gaps can be filled by harmful online communities—at the cost of obedience, harm and sometimes violence.)

On June 22, two minors, aged 14 and 15, opened fire inside San Jose National High School in Barangay San Jose, leaving three people dead and several others injured.

Initial investigation showed that one of the alleged shooters had posted a photo on his Facebook account wearing a KMFDM shirt. While the band has no known links to 764, Hontiveros said some members of NVE networks use the shirt to glorify the Columbine High School massacre.

She added that alleged NVE network members also commented on the minor’s Facebook page, praising him after the incident.

“I want to be very clear: These are not yet final conclusions. Ang mga ito ay leads. Kaya pinadala na po natin ang kumpletong detalye nito sa NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] para sa beripikasyon at imbestigasyon," Hontiveros said

(These are not yet final conclusions but merely leads. We have sent the complete details to the NBI for verification and investigation.)

Posibleng may mas malawak na network, at kailangang mahuli ito bago pa magkaroon ng susunod na mabibiktima,” she added.

(There may be a wider network involved, and it must be stopped before more victims are harmed.)

Meanwhile, Hontiveros clarified that she is not calling for a blanket ban on video games.

“Kailangan natin ng tamang regulasyon para siguruhin na sapat ang gabay at proteksyon sa kabataan online,” she said.

(We need proper regulation to ensure children receive adequate guidance and protection online.)

Hontiveros said the government must act on warning signs early and strengthen safeguards against online groomers and recruiters to prevent similar tragedies from happening again.

“Kapag may warning signs, dapat may kikilos bago pa maging breaking news. Kapag may groomer o recruiter na lalapit sa bata, dapat may haharang bago pa may masirang buhay," she said.

(If there are warning signs, action should be taken before it becomes breaking news. If groomers or recruiters approach children, someone must intervene before lives are destroyed.)

"At para mangyari yan, lahat ay kailangang suriin ng gobyerno. Hindi na po dapat maulit ito,” the senator added.

(For that to happen, the government must act. This should never happen again.) —MCG, GMA News