MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Risa Hontiveros said there were indications that the Tacloban school shooting was influenced by a group called "764" which had been designated a “terrorist group” in Canada and a "national security threat" in the United States as the mother of one of the victims sought justice, demandng jail for the young perpetrators and not just rehabilitation.
Hontiveros, chairman of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, conducted the first public hearing on the shooting incident that killed three students and wounded several others.
The senator said Bradley Cadenhead, 15, from Texas, US formed the 764. He claimed that an individual he met through the online game Minecraft aided him in starting 764, the first three digits being his zip code in Texas.
In her opening statement, Hontiveros said the group, which has a global reach, allegedly looked for vulnerable minors online to encourage them to "commit horrible things."
She said that according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the leaders of 764 "are pushing victims to create graphic pornography, to harm family pets, to cut themselves with sharp objects, or to even die by suicide."
"Paano? Kinakaibigan muna. Binibigyan ng sense of belonging (How? They befriend them first. They will give them a sense of belonging)," Hontiveros said.
"There were indications that this NVE — nihilistic violent extremism — networks use [online] games such Roblox, Minecraft, and Gorebox as recruitment havens," she said in Filipino and English.
However, Hontiveros clarified that she was not seeking for "a total ban on online games."
"Wala akong sinasabi na ang naglalaro ng games ay gagawa ng karahasan in real life. Fake news po iyon (I didn't say that those playing [online] games commit violence in real life. That's fake news," she said.
"Maraming kabataan ang naglalaro para magpahinga, makipagkaibigan, matuto, at maglibang. Malinaw po sa akin: Hindi games o gaming community ang kalaban (Many children play [online games to relax, seek friends, learn, and entertain. It is clear to me: the [online] games or online community are not the enemies," she said.
Jail not rehabilitation
Meanwhile, Jennelyn Badoria, mother of Joyancee Separa who killed in the shooting, agreed with the proposal of Sen. Raffy Tulfo to lower the age of criminal liability of children in conflict with the law.
"Nakapatay 'yan. Bahay Pag-asa (House of Hope) lang yan, ha (They killed [someone]. And yet, he would only be housed in Bahay Pag-asa)?" an emotional Badoria said in her online appearance.
"Kung pwede babaan ang edad na pwedeng makasuhan kasi sabi nung nakabaril 'walang liability.' Dapat maramdaman din nila ang sakit (If possible, lower the age of criminal liability because the shooter said he would not be held liable. They should feel the pain [of losing a loved one)," Badoria said.
Under the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, children under 15 years and below at the time of the offense are exempt from criminal liability.
One of the shooters is 15 years old while the other one, known as alias "Nash," is 14 years old.
The relatives of the students who sustained gunshot wounds during the incident echoed Badoria's call.
"Sana hindi hadlang ang pagiging menor de edad. Unfair. Ganun-ganun na lang (I hope being a minor would not serve as an obstacle [to face criminal liability]. [That's] Unfair. Just like that [and they will be free])?" said Jannica Bituin, elder sister of Gerric, who sustained bullet wound in the neck.
"Sana ibaba from 15 to 12 [age of criminal liability] para hindi na pamarisan. Mamimihasa [sila]. Maraming bata pa papatayin kasi 'di sila makukulong (I hope [the age of criminal liability is] lowered from 15 to 12 so others won't emulate it. They will be used to it. Many more children will get killed because [they believe] they will not be jailed," said Rolando Lapidario, father of Kaye, who was shot in the hip.
"Tungkol ito sa mga panganib na puwedeng kaharapin ng mga bata habang naglalaro at nakikipag-usap (This is about the possible danger that children face while playing or having conversations [fellow players]) online," Hontiveros added.
