DOJ indicts owner of gun used in Tacloban school shooting

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has recommended charges to be filed against the owner of the gun that was used in the school shooting in Tacloban City that left three people dead, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said Monday.

“The owner of the gun in the Tacloban shooting, our local prosecutor’s office in Tacloban already passed— issued a resolution indicting the owner of the gun for criminal negligence,” Vida said during the House hearing on the DOJ's proposed 2027 budget.

He issued the remark when asked about the findings of the Justice Department regarding nihilistic violent extremism (NVE) in the country.

Meanwhile, Vida said there is a pattern that “groomers” are inviting children who play video games to join separate chatrooms.

“May mga groomers po na tinatawag doon, where they are enhanced, ‘yung level of violence, ‘yung level of getting more points,” Vida said.

(There are so-called groomers there who enhance the level of violence and the level of earning more points.)

“On particular details po, this is subject of an ongoing law enforcement activities, no? But up to that extent, I can share with you. That definitely there’s issue there that we need to work on,” he added.

(On particular details, this is subject to ongoing law enforcement activities. But to that extent, I can share with you that there is definitely an issue there that we need to work on.)

Asked if the DOJ has identified these groups, Vida said they will submit a confidential report to the House of Representatives.

In late June, two minors were involved in a shooting incident at the San Jose National High School in Barangay San Jose, Tacloban City that left three individuals dead and numerous others injured.

The DOJ previously called on Congress to prioritize the passage of a law addressing NVE.

For his part, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag said the bureau is monitoring the group.

“Naka-surveillance po kami dito sa grupo na ito, as early as doon sa event ng Tacloban. So we treated it not as an isolated case, but it is designed na ganyan talaga na gagawin nila,” he said.

(We have been conducting surveillance on this group as early as the Tacloban event. So we treated it not as an isolated case, but as something that was deliberately designed to be carried out that way.)

Matibag said they also monitored scheduled attacks in the coming months.

According to the NBI director, officials from the government will go to Singapore on Wednesday to discuss the issue with Meta.

Meanwhile, Vida assured the public that authorities will not profile anyone and will follow the evidence.

“Well, the DOJ will be consistent with all this. Wala po ditong labeling, walang ano, we will just look at where the evidence will lead us. We will look at this guided by the blind lady justice. Kung ano lang po ‘yung ebidensya. Wala pong dagdag, wala pong kulang doon sa aming gagawing imbestigasyon,” he said.

(Well, the DOJ will be consistent with all this. There will be no labeling here, no such thing; we will just look at where the evidence will lead us. We will look at this guided by Lady Justice. Whatever the evidence shows, nothing more and nothing less, will guide our investigation.) —AOL, GMA News