SENATE President Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday called on the government to act swiftly against online predators who groom minors to commit acts of violence against their own communities.
This comes after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said that it had identified an online group allegedly recruiting minors for such nefarious acts.
“I am gravely concerned by the National Bureau of Investigation’s findings on individuals grooming and recruiting minors to commit violence. These predators exploit vulnerable children and weaponize them against communities,” Gatchalian said.
The NBI issued the statement as it investigates recent school shootings, including the Aug. 18 attack at Ateneo de Zamboanga University, where two students were killed. NBI Director Melvin Matibag said investigators had identified a group of alleged “groomers” using online platforms and private group chats to target young people. Initial information indicated that minors aged 12 to 19 were being targeted.
Reports said recruitments were made through online gaming communities and private chat groups, where prospects were exposed to extremist or violent material. They were later encouraged to undertake violent acts. The NBI is examining whether online communities played a role in influencing recent school shooting incidents.
Gatchalian urged the NBI, the Department of Information and Communications Technology, and other law enforcement agencies to identify the perpetrators.
He said the latest findings further underscore the need for stronger safeguards for children on social media and other online platforms.
“The Senate plenary is set to discuss the proposed social media ban for minors under 16 years of age,” he said.
Gatchalian has been pushing for restrictions on social media use by children aged 16 and below, arguing that minors need greater protection from harmful online content following a series of school violence incidents. The Senate has also been considering measures that would require social media platforms to adopt stronger age-verification and child-protection mechanisms.
Gatchalian’s Senate Bill 2066 seeks to establish a minimum age for social media use, regulate children's access to social media platforms, impose obligations on social media providers and prescribe penalties for violations.
The proposed restrictions are part of a broader debate in Congress over how to protect children without leaving them vulnerable to online exploitation, cyberbullying, harmful content and other digital risks.
Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente Sotto III has likewise sought a Senate inquiry into the impact of social media on Filipino children, including its possible links to mental health concerns, online harms and youth involvement in violence and cyber-related offenses.
Gatchalian stressed, however, that government intervention should go beyond restricting access to social media. He said existing programs aimed at addressing children's mental health and strengthening parental involvement must also be sustained.
He specifically cited the School-Based Mental Health Program and the Parent Effectiveness Service Program as important components of the government's efforts to protect children and promote their well-being.
