NBI identified 'groomer' group recruiting minors —Matibag

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has identified a “groomer” group with a supposed “tenet or bible,” wherein members are incited to commit violence, Director Melvin Matibag said Tuesday.

Matibag said that committing violence will lead to promotions within the supposed group.

“Parang you will be promoted. Meron silang tenets, may parang bible sila na pag magawa mo ito mapo-promote ka. May group ka na inaalagaan,” he said in an ambush interview.

(It’s like you will be promoted. They have tenets, almost like a bible, that says if you do this, you will be promoted. You have a group that you take care of.)

“Pag nagawa mo naman ito— ‘yun ang thinking, if this is ‘yung group na ito ha ‘yung sa Zamboanga, I’m not saying ‘yung group na ito — pagkatapos mo gawin ‘yung task na 'yon at pinatay mo ‘yung sarili mo, you will be elevated to sainthood,” he added.

(If you accomplish this—the thinking, if this is the group, specifically the one in Zamboanga, I’m not saying it is this group—after you carry out that task and take your own life, you will be elevated to sainthood.)

Matibag, however, clarified that they are still looking into whether the group is connected to the school shooting in Zamboanga City.

He said the members were also taught illegal things, such as bomb-making.

According to the NBI director, the group has an estimated 1,000 members, composed of mostly Filipinos and foreigners.

“‘Yung groomers na ito, in fact sa Tacloban pa lang nakita na ng NBI ito. Nakita na namin, sinusundan namin ito,” he said.

(These groomers were actually already identified by the NBI as early as Tacloban. We had already spotted them and were monitoring them.)

“Napasok namin ‘yung group chat nitong mga ito, but nagcollapse ‘yung group na ‘yan for some reason. So we’re monitoring this and we will seek the help of Meta,” he added.

(We were able to infiltrate the group chat, but the group eventually collapsed for some reason. So we’re monitoring this, and we will seek the help of Meta.)

He said that the group target minors, ranging from 12 years to 19 years.

The director said they are conducting a parallel probe into the Zamboanga school shooting, wherein the shooter live streamed the incident.

He said the NBI will “do a lot of profiling” to determine who watched the stream, who shared it, and their reason for sharing.

“From our point of view, kaya ni-livebroadcast ‘yan, merong nanonood eh. May gusto siyang audience. Sino doon? It could be the groomer,” he said.

(From our point of view, the fact that it was live streamed means there was someone watching. He wanted an audience. Who was it? It could be the groomer.)

Matibag said the group may also be planning something in the next few months.

He warned parents who own firearms that they will be held responsible in case another such incident occurs.

One of the shooters involved in the incident in Tacloban took his aunt’s firearm while the shooter in the Zamboanga incident got hold of his father’s firearm.

“I am appealing to the parents, again… malaki po ‘yung contribution ninyo para hindi mangyari ito. ‘Yung mga parents lalo na, who owns guns, please be responsible,” he said.

(I am appealing to the parents again. You have a major role in helping prevent this from happening. Parents, especially those who own guns, please be responsible.)

“Because kung mangyayari ulit ‘yan at isa sa mga anak ninyo ma-involve ulit, bukod sa maaaring nawalan na kayo ng anak, nakasakit ang inyong anak, we will also make you responsible for being irresponsible,” he added.

(Because if this happens again and one of your children becomes involved, aside from potentially losing your child or having your child hurt someone, we will also hold you responsible for being irresponsible.) —AOL, GMA News