Senate links Tacloban attack to online extremist group

By Kaela Patricia B. Gabriel

INITIAL FINDINGS presented at a Senate hearing on Wednesday showed that the June 22 school shooting in Tacloban City might have been influenced by an online extremist network that grooms vulnerable children into committing violent acts, Senator Ana Theresia “Risa” N. Hontiveros-Baraquel said.

“There were indications that the shooting in Tacloban had been influenced by this group called ‘764,’” Ms. Hontiveros said during a Senate Women and Children Committee hearing. “The modus of this group is to target vulnerable children and encourage them to do violent deeds.”

“It is clear to me: The enemy is not games or the gaming community. This is about the dangers that children may face while playing and communicating online,” she added, clarifying that she had never called for a blanket ban on video games.

Ms. Hontiveros said the group was founded in the US by Bradley Cadenhead when he was 15 years old, together with another person he met through the online game Minecraft.

She said the case suggests the attack might have stemmed from online grooming by adults rather than from video games alone.

Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” T. Go, who joined the hearing through video conference, also urged lawmakers not to portray online gaming as the cause of youth violence.

“I hope that as we discuss possible reforms, we remain mindful not to unintentionally cast online gaming in a negative light,” he said. He added that e-sports has become a legitimate competitive activity that promotes teamwork, strategic thinking and digital skills.

Mr. Go instead urged stronger policies on youth mental health, responsible gaming and parental guidance to prevent extremist groups from exploiting online platforms.

Richmond L. Tadina, deputy director for administration of the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group, said recruiters promoting nihilistic violent extremism often identify vulnerable children through online games before moving conversations to encrypted messaging platforms.

“Commonly, there is coercion, self-harm, exploitation of minors and violence,” he told the hearing.

He said police had rescued 24 minors from nihilistic violent extremism grooming operations since October 2025.

“Of these 24 rescued minors, they were all exposed to GoreBox,” he said. “We prevented the 24 minors from carrying out violence. However, it is worth noting that we did not prevent this recent shooting.”

GoreBox developer Felix Filip earlier declined the committee’s invitation to attend the hearing, saying the game is rated for adults aged 18 and above and is not intended for minors.

The Tacloban shooting killed three students and injured more than 20 others. Police investigators said the two suspects, aged 14 and 15, regularly played GoreBox, which the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center temporarily banned on June 23 while authorities investigate the incident.

During the hearing, Jennelyn Badoria, whose child was among those killed, urged lawmakers to review the country’s age of criminal responsibility, which is set at 15 unless a child below that age is proven to have acted with discernment.

“Maybe they can be imprisoned in another facility suitable for their age, so they can feel the punishment that is also appropriate for them,” she said.