Senator Risa Hontiveros has called for a legislative inquiry on July 1 to investigate a tragic school shooting in Tacloban City, focusing on how digital platforms may be exposing minors to violent ideologies.
As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, Hontiveros announced that the panel will review previous investigative findings concerning how online gaming spaces and social media platforms are allegedly being exploited to groom and radicalize young people.
“Sa July 1, muli nating bubuksan ang pagdinig para alamin kung may papel ang mga online platforms sa pagkalat ng mararahas na ideya. Nagiging pugad ng mga grupong nambe-brainwash at nagra-radicalize sa mga bata,” Hontiveros said.
The announcement follows a violent attack at San Jose National High School, which resulted in the deaths of three students and left several others injured.
Police have detained two suspects, aged 14 and 15, noting that one of the minors had been playing a violent online game prior to the incident.
“Titingnan natin ulit kung may sapat bang ginagawa ang lahat ng online platforms para hindi mapagsamantalahan ang mga kabataan,” Hontiveros said.
Hontiveros recalled that her committee’s past inquiries had already exposed how digital networks are leveraged to spread violent extremism and facilitate severe offenses against minors, including online sexual abuse, grooming, exploitation, and extortion. She emphasized the need for accountability among major technology firms.
“Kung ginagamit ang internet para biktimahin ang mga bata, dapat may managot. Hindi pwedeng kita lang lagi ang iniisip ng ‘Big Tech’ habang ang ating mga pamilya at paaralan ay nababalot ng trahedya,” she said.
“Hindi natin hihintayin na magkaroon ng sunod pang biktima bago kumilos. Dapat makapasok ang bawat bata sa paaralan nang ligtas at makauwi rin nang ligtas sa kanilang pamilya,” she added.