Shooter at Banga National High School was into deep dark web —DILG - GMA Network

The shooter who was behind the deadly incident at the Banga National High School in South Cotabato was into the deep dark web, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Saturday.

"Upon investigation, he was heavily into the deep dark web. He was into the deep dark web which influenced him," DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said.

"According to his phone, he left several notes detailing his depression at tuloy-tuloy ito (this went on). And it was discovered last April 2026 ng parents niya. And the parents tried to handle the situation ngunit nagkulang (but it was not enough)," he said.

Remulla said the incident occurred at 1 p.m. Friday.

"Three children are confirmed dead," he said, saying two were students and one other was the shooter. Eight were injured.

"This is another incident and one too many. Again for the third time, an illegal gun was used that was not secured," Remulla said.

The DILG chief said the gun belonged to the shooter's father who is a disaster risk mitigation officer of the Department of Education (DepEd).

"Mayroon siyang ('yung ama) tatlong licensed firearms na hindi secured enough na nabuksan ng bata at kinuha 'yung baril," he added.

(The father had three licensed firearms. These were not secured enough. The child took one gun.)

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. meanwhile conveyed condolences to the families of the fatalities.

"Once again, ang Philippine National Police ay nakikiramay," he said.

(Once again, the PNP sends its sympathies.)

Nartatez said investigators are looking at the events and actions that have transpired before the shooting to determine what led the shooter to commit the crime.

"For one thing, hindi natin mabasa ang pag-iisip ng isang tao but we can investigate or look into the actions before these incidents," he said.

(For one thing, we cannot read the mind of one person but we can investigate or look into the actions before these incidents.)

Police are looking into various personal effects of the shooter, Nartatez said.

"We look into various personal effects in coordination with the parents. Notes, cellular phone, other gadgets that we can subject to forensic or any investigation," he said.

"Record shows that he's into heavy activities with the social media as well as internet activities showing violent activities," Nartatez said.

The DILG chief advised parents to check on what their children are looking up on social media, and what websites they visit.

"Tingnan ninyo. It is not a privacy issue. Anak n'yo 'yan... Nalulublob sila sa malalalim at madidilim na websites," Remulla said.

(Look at those. It is not a privacy issue. That is your child... They are being drawn to deep and dark websites.)

Remulla said he will be meeting with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), as well as urge Congress to craft stricter measures with the children’s use of social media.

“Nakikita natin na kung unsupervised ay saan-saan sila pumupunta at iniimpluwensiyahan ‘yung mga bata. So I will meet with the DICT to put an end to this. Even going to Congress to ask for the limitation of the use of the social media sa mga bata, katulad ng ginawa ng Australia,” he said.

(We see that if unsupervised, they go everywhere, and are being influenced. So I will meet with the DICT to put an end to this. I am even going to Congress to ask for the limitation of the use of social media by children, similar to what Australia did.)

Remulla said that in their previous meetings with game developers, discussions revealed that some children participate in conversations on a different platform while their playing online games.

“Sa Meta sila nasa platform. Roblox sila naglalaro pero ‘yung conversation nasa iba. So someone has to answer up for this and the legislation has to be put in place to protect our children,” he said.

(The platform is in Meta. They play Roblox but their conversations were on other platforms.)

Remulla said he is also set to discuss with the Department of Education (DepEd) the purchase of metal detectors to enhance security in schools.

“That's between DepEd and I to discuss dito sa upcoming budget na bumili na ng metal detectors for all schools,” Remulla said.

(That's between DepEd and me to discuss in the upcoming budget, to purchase metal detectors for all schools.)

The DILG chief said using metal detectors would be a better option than conducting body searches on students.

“‘Yung kakapkapan mo kasi bata (To do a body search on a child), that's very unusual. That's very, very unusual and intrusive and can be misinterpreted. So what we need are metal detectors," he said.

Meanwhile, Remulla reiterated his proposal for authorities to inspect the homes of gun owners to ensure that their firearms are safely stored.

“We should have the power to inspect,” he said at the press conference.

“We should have the power to inspect without warrant. All gun owners, and how safely, how they handle their guns, how they store their guns,” he added.

“Remember, the right owning a firearm in the Philippines is not shining in the Constitution. It is not a right but a privilege. And that privilege has to come with responsibility and that responsibility has to come with accountability, especially with the PNP,” Remulla added. —with a report from Jamil Santos/KG/VBL, GMA News