Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have arrested individuals connected to a recent school shooting in Banga, South Cotabato, alongside a suspected online “groomer” based in Cebu.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag revealed the successful operations during a Senate Department of Justice budget hearing on Thursday, explaining that the suspects are tied to online networks driving violent extremist ideologies among young social media users.
“Incidentally, I would like to report to you, yesterday [Wednesday] we were able to get hold of the individuals who were somehow related to what happened in South Cotabato. And yesterday [Wednesday] we also made an apprehension of one of suspected groomers from Cebu, and with the help of the NPS and DOJ, we will be processing it today [Thursday],” Matibag told lawmakers.
While Matibag refrained from providing granular operational details regarding the South Cotabato arrests, he noted that close coordination with Banga National High School proved crucial to tracking down the suspects. Officials did not confirm whether the individuals involved in the school shooting and the suspected groomer in Cebu operated independently or shared organizational links.
The recent arrests reflect the bureau’s intensified monitoring of digital ecosystems and underground networks to curb cyber-enabled threats targeting minors.
“On the average, we’re getting about 7 to 8 case out of 10 sa NBI. Kung di man directly related, yung mga crimes po na ginagawa related po sa cyber…At yung monitoring natin diyan, nasa deep web po sila diyan, sa dark web, kailangan nating makita,” Matibag explained.