ILIGAN CITY — Three high school students have been arrested for the brutal beating of a nine-year-old boy that was filmed and circulated on social media, sparking widespread outrage.

Authorities said that the nine-year-old, identified as a third-grade student, was walking home in Barangay Maria Cristina when the suspects reportedly blocked his path and attacked him. The victim suffered severe head and body injuries and is now in a coma, according to police.

Video of the assault, recorded by the attackers, spread quickly online. The three minors have been taken into custody.

Police Regional Office 10 spokesperson Maj. Joanne Navarro said the parents of the suspects will also be held accountable, stressing that parents have a “legal responsibility over the criminal acts of their children.”

Meantime, Iligan City Mayor Frederick Siao condemned the attack as an “inhumane and unforgivable act” and vowed that the perpetrators would face the “full extent of the law.”

Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine if more individuals were involved.