WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR: Day 2 of Tacloban school shooting

Authorities on Tuesday said the total number of victims in the Tacloban City school shooting last Monday has risen to 23 as of 8 a.m.

According to Police Regional Office (PRO) 8, the number of fatalities remain at three, while the wounded have risen to 15, and an additional five people sustained non-firearm-related injuries.

PRO 8 confirmed that all 23 victims are minors:

• Fatalities - two females, one male
• Wounded - six females, nine males
• Non-firearm-related injuries - three females, two males

Meanwhile, heightened security has been implemented at the San Jose National High School, the site of the deadly incident. Authorities continue to consider the compound a crime scene, according to Raffy Tima’s social media update.

The two children in conflict with the law (CICL) students are currently under the custody of the city social welfare and development office.

‘Premeditated’

On Tuesday, Department of Education Secretary Sonny Angara visited the victims and the school. In an interview, Angara said the shooting incident was part of a “mission” that the CICL students had planned.

“Sabi nung adviser ‘yung batang ‘yun tahimik lang. Tapos parang nagpaalam siya na may activity raw sila sa Maynila. Tapos ‘di siya pumasok ng one week. Tapos nangyari ito,” Angara said.

(According to his adviser, the student was normally quiet. Then, he apparently asked to be excused from classes, saying he had an activity in Manila. After that, he didn't attend classes for a week. Then this happened.)

“So mukhang talagang, for now, although hindi definitive pinagplanuhan talaga. May group chat daw sila, tapos may ‘mission’ daw sila,” Angara added.

(So for now, although it’s not yet definitive, it really looks like it was really planned. They reportedly had a group chat, and they supposedly had a “mission.”)

On Unang Balita, DepEd Undersecretary for Operations Dr. Malcolm Garma said there are “indications” pointing that there was planning involved in the shooting incident.

“Based on the initial investigation, mukhang meron talagang plano. Parang premeditated talaga ‘yung ginawa ng dalawang bata,” Garma said.

(Based on the initial investigation, it seems that there really was a plan. It seems like what the two minors did was premeditated.)

“There are already indications na talagang pinagplanuhan. Kung makikita natin kung bullying ito, kung apektado sila o na-bully sila, dapat targeted, dapat tukoy kung sino. Pero seemingly, what happened here is talagang sporadic, random talaga. Lahat ng makita at makasalubong ay binabaril talaga,” he added.

(There are already indications that the shooting was actually planned. If this was due to bullying, the attacks should be targeted, it should be specific who their targets were. But seemingly, what happened here was the shooting was really sporadic, really random. They shot everyone they saw or came upon.)

Influence of online game

The Philippine National Police is investigating whether the online game GoreBox influenced the violent behavior of the two minors involved in the incident.

PRO 8 Director Police Brig. Gen. Jayson Capoy said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB that the 14-year-old minor had been playing GoreBox, a sandbox-style game that allows players to create and destroy objects and simulate chaos using various weapons.

“Isa rito sa mga nakikita naming [naka-impluwensiya] itong tinatawag na GoreBox, parang Roblox lang daw ito, at medyo bayolente ‘yung nasabing gaming app po,” Capoy said in a subsequent interview on “Balitanghali.”

Capoy added the two students initially meant only to scare their schoolmates.

Following initial findings, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) announced the temporary banning of GoreBox.

“We are blocking Gorebox temporarily as a precautionary measure pending the investigation. Within the day, expect the app to be blocked,” CICC Undersecretary Aboy Paraiso said.

“Among other applications, we will be conducting strict monitoring to gain greater visibility into online activities involving GoreBox,” Paraiso added.

The Senate is set to open its investigation into the incident on July 1, and will be led by the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality.

The Senate probe follows its investigation into the “growing threat of online radicalization among children,” according to Senator Risa Hontiveros, who chairs the committee.

“Sa July 1, muli nating bubuksan ang pagdinig para alamin kung may papel ang mga online platforms sa pagkalat ng mararahas na ideya. Nagiging pugad ng mga grupong nambe-brainwash at nagra-radicalize sa mga bata,” Hontiveros said.

(On July 1, we will reopen the hearing to determine if online platforms play a role in spreading violent ideas. They are becoming breeding grounds for groups that brainwash and radicalize children.)

“Titingnan natin ulit kung may sapat bang ginagawa ang lahat ng online platforms para hindi mapagsamantalahan ang mga kabataan,” she added.

(We will look into whether all online platforms are doing enough to prevent our youth from being exploited.)

In April, an investigation of the committee discovered how online platforms and gaming spaces are allegedly used to groom, manipulate, and radicalize children into violence, the senator said.

Police have urged parents and teachers to monitor children's use of social media and gadgets.

Calls for justice, liability

A grandmother of one of the three victims is demanding justice from the shooters and the registered owners of the firearms used in the incident.

“Porke't bata hindi sila mananagot?” she said in an interview with GMA News' Emil Sumangil.

She also denied that her grandchild was involved in bullying, an angle that authorities are looking into as the shooters' possible motive.

“Siya po ‘yung binubully. Hindi po siya nang bubully. Mabait po ‘yung apo ko,” she said.

“Hindi po totoo ‘yung sinasabi nilang nabu-bully ‘’yun, tignan niyo naman ‘yung katawan niya. Magaling po sila sa baril. Sinadya po nila ‘yun,” she added.

(My grandchild did not bully anyone. My grandchild was the one being bullied. My grandchild is a kind person. Their claims that my grandchild is a bully is not true.)

The shooters were identified as students of the school aged 14 and 15.

Under Republic Act No. 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, children 15 years old and below are exempt from criminal liability.

During a briefing at Malacanang Palance, the Philippine National Police expressed support for calls to amend R.A. 9344 and lower the criminal liability to 12 years old. Senator Robin Padilla, meanwhile, has proposed to lower it to 10 years old.

According to PNP spokesperson Col. Allen Rae Co, the 15-year-old student is considered as “above 15” because the days past his 15th year are included in the count.

“So kapag 15 years old and one day is considered as above na po, so siya po ay mag-undergo and most probably makikita po ng DSWD that he acted with discernment at siya po ay will undergo regular trial, formal trial, but of course while serving yung child protection protocols,” Co said.

(So if he is15 years old and one day, he is already considered above [the age threshold]. Thus, he will undergo [evaluation], and the DSWD will most probably find that he acted with discernment. He will then undergo a regular, formal trial, but of course, while child protection protocols are being observed.)

Meanwhile, the 14-year-old minor will be placed as mandated in a DSWD child protection facility due to the gravity of the offense. —RF, GMA News