DILG warns of deep web violence following South Cotabato campus attack

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Wednesday that law enforcement authorities are pursuing a suspect believed to have influenced a minor involved in a fatal school shooting in Banga, South Cotabato, through online interactions.

Remulla confirmed during an interview that the suspect is located within the Philippines and that law enforcement agencies have established his location.

“We caught one, and we’re chasing him right now,” Remulla said, explaining that the suspect exploited the student’s insecurities and encouraged violence by promising online recognition.

“They prey upon their insecurities, telling them that they will be glorified if they do something like this. It’s a very insidious way of inciting that kind of hate,” he added.

Investigators previously connected the junior high school student’s actions to exposure to dark web networks that promote and glorify violence.

Remulla described the trend as alarming and noted that law enforcement agencies are taking online threats and related social media posts seriously following separate campus shooting incidents in Tacloban, Zamboanga, and Cotabato.

The interior chief stated that the government is evaluating broader policy measures to curb campus violence, including restricting minors’ access to certain websites and social media platforms, drawing comparisons to legislation adopted in Australia.

Remulla also urged parents to monitor their children’s online activities for potential signs of radicalization or exposure to violent networks.