SOCIAL media giant Meta has swiftly taken down videos and blocked accounts distributing graphic footage of a fatal school shooting in South Cotabato, following swift intervention by the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC).
The tragic incident occurred at around 1:15 p.m. inside a classroom at Banga National High School in Barangay Benitez, leaving three students dead—including the shooter—and six others injured. It marks the country’s third deadly campus violence incident since June.
CICC Executive Director Renato “Aboy” Paraiso confirmed that the agency’s Threat Monitoring Center (TMC), an attached office of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), is actively monitoring digital spaces to scrub any resurfacing footage or related media.
“Sa patuloy na koordinasyon ng CICC sa Meta, agad pong na-takedown ang mga kumalat na video ng insidente sa kanilang social media platforms, habang mabilis ding na-block ang mga account na nagbahagi ng nasabing material,” Paraiso stated.
Both the DICT and CICC issued strong appeals urging the public and netizens to refrain from uploading, sharing, or circulating graphic videos, images, and unverified details surrounding the tragedy.
Officials emphasized that spreading such material compromises the privacy and dignity of the victims, creates undue panic, and risks triggering copycat violence.
“Ang pagpapakalat ng ganitong content ay maaaring magdulot ng higit na takot, kalituhan at posibleng magbigay ng inspirasyon sa copycat violence,” Paraiso warned, while also advising parents to closely supervise their children’s online activity, messaging apps, and gaming communities.
The DICT strongly condemned the violence, reiterating that educational institutions must remain safe havens for students and educators.
While extending deep condolences to the bereaved families and wishing a swift recovery for the injured, the department assured that it stands ready to offer technical and communications assistance to law enforcement as formal investigations proceed.
