PNP targets groups luring kids to violence
Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. ordered the agency to strengthen its monitoring of supposed groups involved in the “online indoctrination” of children to violence.
“We in the PNP want nothing more than to ensure the safety of our children. As threats continue to evolve, we remain committed to protecting them from all forms of harm, particularly those facilitated through online platforms,” Nartatez said in a statement on Wednesday.
“I have instructed the Anti-Cybercrime Group to step up surveillance and intensify operations against groups behind the online indoctrination of children into extreme violence and radicalism,” he added.
Added protection
The PNP chief’s statement came after President Marcos, in his fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona), called for more protections for the youth against violence online.
This came after the fatal school shooting in Tacloban City, in which three students were killed and 20 others were injured by two minors supposedly influenced by social media and the game GoreBox.
“We call on parents and guardians to help us in this fight by closely monitoring behavioral changes in children who may be victims of online manipulation that promotes violence,” Nartatez stressed.
At the same time, he said authorities must implement “more proactive” measures to ensure safety in the country’s schools.
“We’re helping our officials with DepEd (Department of Education) and other training institutions. We’ve been doing that continuously,” Nartatez added.
“It’s just that we need to have some programs and activities that are more proactive and will properly deny the occurrence of violence and incidents in which our students are put in harm’s way,” he said.
Social media ban defended
Nartatez, meanwhile, defended the PNP’s proposal to ban social media use for minors after the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Chiefs of Police (Aseanapol) recommended the measure to address school violence.
“We’re not saying that’s the only solution,” he said. “It’s one of the programs. It’s a holistic approach.”
The proposal to ban social media use for minors was discussed at the 44th Aseanapol conference hosted by the PNP in Pasay City last week.
According to PNP director for investigation and detective management Brig. Gen. Matthew Baccay, the suggestion took inspiration from Australian legislation that banned social media for users younger than 16, which took effect last year.
Baccay explained that the conference took up the proposal upon discussing the Tacloban City school shooting.
Advocacy group Save the Children had opposed the proposal, arguing that the ban would shift the burden of online safety to children.
“Peace and order is a joint responsibility of each and every one, not just the police. Of course, the police are there to keep everyone in order,” Nartatez said.
“That’s why we continuously engage our community stakeholders,” he added.
